Absorption of electromagnetic radiation is the process by which matter takes up electromagnetic energy and converts it into other forms of energy, such as heat. It is a specialized skill that can be used to study the characteristics of materials and their interaction with electromagnetic waves. Different materials absorb different types of radiation at different wavelengths, which can be used to identify the composition of materials, detect defects or impurities, and study energy transfer processes. Understanding absorption is important in fields such as spectroscopy, material science, and environmental monitoring.