The DU Spectrophotometer was introduced in 1941 by Arnold O. Beckman to measure the amount of ultraviolet light absorbed by a substance. It also provided a more accurate method of determining the chemical composition of complex substances while reducing the amount of time needed for analysis. Beckman's spectrophotometer was extremely important during World War 2 when the U.S. military needed to produce higher octance gas. It was also an important tool in recognizing vitamin-A rich foods for soldiers. For more information on Beckman's spectrophotometer, please visit the Beckman website: https://www.beckman-foundation.org/about-foundation/inventions/spectrophotometer