WHAT IS SPECTROSCOPY? Spectroscopy is a technique used by astronomers and physicists to study the make-up of an object based on the light it emits. Anything that produces light or radiates energy, whether a light bulb or a star, is telling us about itself and anything between us and the source. This is possible because each chemical element has a unique signature, emitting or absorbing radiation at specific wavelengths. For example, sodium, used in street lights, emits primarily orange light. Oxygen, used in neon lights, emits green light. By passing the light from a star or other object through a special instrument, called a spectrograph, the light is "spread" into a spectrum in much the same way visible light is spread into its colors by a prism. By carefully studying how the spectrum becomes brighter or darker at each wavelength, scientists can tell what chemical elements are present.
WHAT IS A BABY SIM? BabySim is shaped like a life-sized baby. It can blink, move its chest, cry, exhale and cough, among other movements. It functions much like the barcode systems used at supermarket checkout counters. External information is converted into electrical signals, causing the BabySim to react much like a normal baby would when, for example, given a certain type of medication. The simulator can also allow caregivers to perform clinical tasks like tracheal intubation, insertion of IVs or bladder catheters, and chest compressions, providing realistic clinical scenarios.