'Electronic Fog' From Wireless Devices Might Block Study of Space
As our world becomes increasingly wireless, scientists must grapple with the effects of millions of people using devices like cell phones and laptops. After all, there's only so much space on the electromagnetic spectrum. You might not consider it while Googling or browsing Facebook, but that signal you're transmitting could be making it tougher for some scientists to do their jobs. That's why the U.S. National Research Center (NRC), in a report released today, is calling for tougher regulations on the emissions of wireless signals. According to LiveScience, man-made signals have created an "electronic fog" that often blocks natural signals from the Earth or outer space. Scientists monitor these signals to keep an eye on temperature and water level changes in the atmosphere, to determine weather patterns, and even to learn about the origins of the universe.
To address this problem, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has protected certain parts of the spectrum, but the NRC says that's not good enough. The group suggests taking a page out of the cell phone companies' book. Instead of reserving parts of a spectrum for certain signals, a cell phone network juggles use of a spectrum between many users. So instead of having a part of the spectrum going unused, access is "juggled" to whoever needs it at that time -- like if a scientist needs to briefly access a satellite for a measurement.
This plan sounds fine to us. Well, just as long as those pesky scientists don't slow down our wireless connection. After all, the weather forecast is important, but not as important as checking Facebook on our iPhone. [From: LiveScience]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tony G said 9:48AM on 11-03-2009
Erm...aren't wireless signals only transmitted on certain frequencies, very small parts of the overall electromagnetic spectrum? Certainly your everyday users aren't spamming the entire transmissible spectrum...maybe science should invest in tapping some of the less used frequencies...
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Mark said 11:54AM on 11-03-2009
Technically all radios broadcast on every frequency. They just broadcast most powerfully on the frequencies they are tuned to, and less powerfully (by huge factors) on all the other ranges.
On top of that, you have all kinds of frequency shifting effects from materials found in every day life.
It is quite crowded and noisy out there in the wireless spectrum.
Think of nighttime in a city, where all the lights are on. Sure none of them are very bright, but together they block out the stars.