Atomic absorption spectroscopy is a technique used to detect metals and some non-metals in samples. It works by vaporizing the sample in a flame or graphite furnace and measuring the absorption of light at specific wavelengths that are characteristic of different elements. The amount of light absorbed can then be used to determine the concentration of those elements in the original sample. It is a common, reliable, and simple method that can analyze over 60 different elements at very low concentrations.