Infrared (IR) Spectroscopy

In this interview, S. Michael Angel, a consultant on the SuperCam team, explains how the instrument analyzes Martian rocks and what it reveals about Mars’ geology and potential for past life.

Macarena Garcia Marin, an astrophysicist and instrument scientist for the European Space Agency, highlights the role spectroscopy techniques have played in the pivotal research done on the James Webb Telescope since its launch in 2021.

A study from Chinese researchers demonstrates how combining satellite imagery, land use data, and machine learning can improve pollution monitoring in fast-changing urban rivers. The study focuses on non-optically active pollutants in the Weihe River Basin and showcases promising results for remote, data-driven water quality assessments.

Researchers from Université de Tours have shown that serum mid-infrared spectroscopy (MIRS) may serve as a promising prognostic tool for identifying high-risk metastatic colorectal cancer patients undergoing first-line bevacizumab-based chemotherapy.

New research highlights how remote satellite sensing technologies are changing the way scientists monitor inland water quality, offering powerful tools for tracking pollutants, analyzing ecological health, and supporting environmental policies across the globe.

A recent study conducted by scientists in Brazil saw the development of a quick, non-invasive method to diagnose endometriosis.

Modern remote sensing technologies have evolved from coarse-resolution multispectral sensors like MODIS and MERIS to high-resolution, multi-band systems such as Sentinel-2 MSI, Landsat OLI, and UAV-mounted spectrometers. These advancements provide greater spectral and spatial detail, enabling precise monitoring of environmental, agricultural, and land-use dynamics.

This article shows the benefits and ease with which mid-infrared testing can reveal supply change mismanagement events and help to quickly identify and correct mishaps.

In this brief segment from my full-length conversation with Monica Arienzo, who was the lead author of this study, she discusses whether there was a correlation between the different types of litter and the polymer type.

In this brief segment from my full-length conversation with Monica Arienzo, she explains why ATR FT-IR spectroscopy was the ideal technique of choice for her study characterizing polymers from the litter found on the lakebed of Lake Tahoe.

In the lead up to Earth Day 2025, we revisit an interview conducted with Monica Arienzo that discusses how ATR-FT-IR spectroscopy was used to classify polymers in plastic litter types found in Lake Tahoe back in 2023.

A leading-edge review led by researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and MIT explores how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the study of molecular vibrations and phonon dynamics. From infrared and Raman spectroscopy to neutron and X-ray scattering, AI is transforming how scientists interpret vibrational spectra and predict material behaviors.

A new study by researchers from Palo Alto Research Center (PARC, a Xerox Company) and LG Chem Power presents a novel method for real-time battery monitoring using embedded fiber-optic sensors. This approach enhances state-of-charge (SOC) and state-of-health (SOH) estimations, potentially improving the efficiency and lifespan of lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles (xEVs).

Using LIBS, infrared, and Raman spectroscopic techniques scientists detect quartz and hydrated silica, hinting at past Martian water activity and potential biosignatures

Scientists demonstrate submicron detection of microbes and minerals in Mars-analogue basalt using O-PTIR spectroscopy

Researchers from the Institute of Nuclear Physics Polish Academy of Sciences have unveiled new insights into the molecular arrangement of the 7HH6 compound’s smectic phases using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and infrared (IR) spectroscopy.

In a recent study published in Marine Pollution Bulletin, a team of researchers from several Spain and Portugal universities and institutions (Rovira i Virgili University, Universitat de Barcelona, University of Porto, and Institut d'Investigació Sanitaria Pere Virgili (IISPV) assessed microplastic (MP) contamination along the Mediterranean coastline.

Recent advancements in exoplanet detection, including high-resolution spectroscopy, adaptive optics, and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven data analysis, are significantly improving our ability to identify and study distant planets. These developments mark a turning point in the search for habitable worlds beyond our solar system.

Scientists are using advanced spectroscopic techniques to probe the universe, uncovering vital insights about celestial objects. A new study by Diriba Gonfa Tolasa of Assosa University, Ethiopia, highlights how atomic and molecular physics contribute to astrophysical discoveries, shaping our understanding of stars, galaxies, and even the possibility of extraterrestrial life.

Astronomers have made a significant leap in the study of exoplanet atmospheres with a new ground-based spectroscopic technique that rivals space-based observations in precision. Using the Exoplanet Transmission Spectroscopy Imager (ETSI) at McDonald Observatory in Texas, researchers have analyzed 21 exoplanet atmospheres, demonstrating that ground-based telescopes can now provide cost-effective reconnaissance for future high-precision studies with facilities like the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) (1-3).

Top articles published this week include some of our columns in the most recent Spectroscopy magazine issue as well as more coverage from the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) Conference.

In the fifth installment of “The Big Review” of infrared (IR) spectral interpretation, we review the spectroscopy of functional groups containing C-O bonds, discuss alcohols and phenols, and see how to use IR spectroscopy to distinguish these alcohols from each other. We then discuss ethers and see how to use IR spectroscopy to distinguish the three different types from each other.

In this "Icons of Spectroscopy" column, executive editor Jerome Workman Jr. details how Tomas B. Hirschfeld has made many significant contributions to vibrational spectroscopy and has inspired and mentored many leading scientists of the past several decades.