Astronomical Info v/s Interconnected Devices

In his book, Our Mathematical Universe, Max Tegmark writes that:

“A spectrum is a goldmine of astronomical information, and every time you think you’ve milked it for all it’s worth, you find more clues encoded in it.”

The word “spectrum” above refers to electromagnetic waves coming from different objects. This includes (but is not limited to) visible light as well as ultraviolet and infrared radiation. Without getting into the details of how, but using just that one signal (and a lot of “clever detective work”), astronomers can calculate the following aspects of objects in space:

-         How far away are they?

-         How hot (or cold) are they?

-         How big are they?

-         How fast are they moving?

-         How heavy are they?

-         What are they made of?

-         How much is the pressure?

-         How strong is the magnetism out there?

Imagine figuring all that from “seemingly inscrutable white dots” in the sky! All of which is why Tegmark says:

“Spectra are the gift that just keeps on giving.”

Now consider the ubiquitous cell coverage, devices that communicate with each other, and increasing WiFi and Bluetooth everywhere. Guess what they have now started interfering with, asks Sarah Scholes:

“Astronomers are finding it harder and harder to detect faint radio signals from space, which sometimes come in on the same frequencies as human technology.”

Yes, you heard it right. Parts of the spectrum of our tech is now interfering with the work astronomers do! Of course, certain bands of frequencies are not used by our tech (e.g. the band “around frequencies of 1,420 megahertz, where cosmic hydrogen beams out its emissions” is off limits).

But it turns out that regulators world over starting in the US feel that the old model of “allocating frequencies” for use is the not the best way to do things. Given the excessive devices that “talk to each other”, there is the pressure to allow algorithms to pick the “right” frequency to talk based on various parameters rather than give everyone a “set, static frequency”. Don’t be surprised if this is the way other countries will head soon. The bad news in all this?

“When astronomers want to know if a signal comes from space, they sometimes depend on knowing what a given source of human-made radio waves looks like. "Yes, that's definitely the neighbors' iRobot," they may be able to say. But not if iRobot is always changing.”

Are we killing the “gift that keeps on giving”? It’s a sad prospect…