The article discusses how spectral analysis breaks down a time series into different sinusoidal components, helping to understand the underlying patterns in the data. This method is like looking at a time series in terms of its frequency content rather than its time-based behavior. By analyzing the spectral representation of a time series, researchers can gain insights that may not be apparent from traditional methods. For example, in engineering, knowing the frequency components of a fluctuating load can help prevent structural damage due to resonance.