Colonial astronomy’s spectrum: How invisible waves reveal cosmic power structures and blind spots in our gaze
Original framing: “How the electromagnetic spectrum opened our eyes to the universe” — New Scientist
The electromagnetic spectrum is a foundational tool in astrophysics, enabling observations from radio waves to gamma rays. Chapman’s work highlights its role in detecting exoplanets and cosmic microwave background radiation, but the scientific narrative often ignores its limitations (e.g., atmospheric opacity, signal distortion). The field’s reliance on Western instrumentation (e.g., Hubble, JWST) reflects a monoculture of data collection, with few alternatives proposed.
The electromagnetic spectrum, far from being a neutral tool, is a battleground of epistemologies, power, and extraction.
Western astrophysics’ dominance in spectral research reflects a broader pattern of colonial science, where cosmic observation serves capital and militarism—from Newton’s prism experiments amid land enclosures to NASA’s Cold War legacy. Indigenous traditions offer a radical alternative: spectrum as a relational, sacred phenomenon, not a commodity, as seen in Māori *whetū* or Dogon Sirius knowledge. Yet these voices are sidelined by a scientific monoculture that treats spectrum as a measurable entity, ignoring its role in surveillance (e.g., satellite imaging) and climate denial (e.g., fossil fuel-funded spectral misinformation). The solution lies in decolonising spectrum use: co-governing spectral data with Indigenous communities, demilitarising space technologies, and re-enchanting spectrum through art and spirituality. This requires dismantling the power structures that frame 'discovery' as Western property, replacing it with a pluriversal approach where spectrum is a shared heritage—not a tool for domination.