Not only that, but as an absorptive material it could absorb reflected light allowing us to study "pure" light and its applications uncolored with reflections
to augment post #14
MASINT,” or Measurement And Signatures INTelligence, encompasses a range of disciplines that exploit fundamental physical properties of objects of interest, the exploitation of which offers tremendous value for national security (military, homeland defense, and intelligence), as well as civil applications (such as agriculture, law enforcement). MASINT techniques include advanced radar, electrooptical/ infrared (including spectral), nuclear, geophysical (acoustic, seismic), and materials sensing, processing, and exploitation systems. These offer unique and critical information that is not otherwise available, or complements more broadly known techniques such as imaging (“pictures”), signals intelligence (“eavesdropping”), or human intelligence (“spies”).