Light is reflected from the objects in our surroundings. Depending on the properties of the atoms of these objects, certain spectral regions are absorbed. What spectral regions are absorbed depends on the atoms and molecules in these objects. The remainder is perceived by our eyes, generating different colors.
Additionally, because of the wave-particle dualism of matter, spectroscopy includes the related study of the interaction between matter and particles - like electrons and neutrons. With this definition X-ray diffraction, neutron scattering, electron microscopy, and NMR are spectroscopic methods.
There is an emerging area of expertise surrounding single-particle cryo-EM and cryo-ET of plunge-frozen samples at he Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, physically located at SciLifeLab Stockholm.
