Spectroscopy in Action

By: Nitya Shah & Tyler Rotholz

If you’ve ever sat in a chemistry lab, squinting at a UV-VIS graph or fiddling with an IR spectrometer, you might have wondered: When am I ever going to use this in real life? The answer? Way more than you think. 

Ref: UNM Mass Spectrometry Instrumentation :: Mass Spectrometry | The University of New Mexico. Unm.edu. https://massspec.unm.edu/instrumentation.html. 

Spectroscopy – the study of how light interacts with matter – is one of the most powerful tools in science. It’s not just for chemists in fancy white coats. It is a go-to technique for NASA scientists exploring other planets, forensic teams solving crimes, and inspectors making sure your food is safe to eat. Seriously, the stuff you’re learning in class could someday help crack a cold case, detect life on Mars, or keep dangerous chemicals out of products like baby formula. 

Back here on Earth, food safety relies on these same techniques. Spectroscopy can detect pesticides on your apples, contaminants in your water, or dangerous additives in products that claim to be “all-natural.” It’s quiet, behind-the-scenes work, but it makes a huge difference in our everyday lives. 

What’s amazing is that all of this, from crime labs to space missions, uses the same basic principles you’re learning in school. Sure, the equipment might get more advanced, but the core idea stays the same: shine light on something, see how it reacts, and learn what it's made of. 

So, the next time you're in class wondering what IR peaks or UV absorbance have to do with anything, remember this: you’re learning the language that helps us solve mysteries, explore new worlds, and protect lives. Spectroscopy isn’t just a chapter in your textbook; it’s a passport to real-world impact. 

And who knows? Maybe someday, you’ll be the one holding the spectrometer that uncovers the next big discovery. 

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