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The author of Skulls in the Stars is an associate professor of physics, specializing in optical science, at UNC Charlotte. The blog covers topics in physics and optics, the history of science, classic pulp fantasy and horror fiction, and the surprising intersections between these areas. -
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Monthly Archives: September 2008
Physics, guitars and pitch harmonics
One of the fun parts about being a scientist is running across “day-to-day” phenomena which can be understood much better using a little bit of one’s knowledge. One of these I’ve had bouncing around in my head for a while: … Continue reading
Posted in Physics
15 Comments
John W. Campbell Jr.’s Who Goes There?
I’ll be getting back to some physics posts this week — I promise! In the meantime, I thought I’d step away from reading old, old classic horror of the 19th century for a bit and look to a different era: … Continue reading
Posted in Entertainment, Horror
5 Comments
Pictures of gas crisis in Soviet Carolinastan!
Yesterday I complained about the gas shortage that’s hitting parts of the southeast, including the western Carolinas, really hard. The Colonial Pipeline which provides the area with fuel has been operating at severely reduced capacity, because the refineries which feed … Continue reading
Posted in ... the Hell?
2 Comments
‘Fusion Man’ tools across the Channel
I’ve previously mentioned the exploits of Yves Rossy, aka “Fusion Man”, a daredevil who had successfully built and tested a jet-powered wing. Now, according to CNN, Rossy has taken a flight across the English Channel! The 22-mile flight from Calais … Continue reading
Posted in Sports
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Obama earns the crucial “Nobel Laureates in Science” demographic
Via ERV, I learn that a collection of 61 American Nobel Laureates in Science have gotten together to wholeheartedly endorse Barack Obama. Their “Open Letter to the American People” can be read here. It’s an impressive list. It is noted … Continue reading
Posted in Science news
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Stations, stations everywhere, but not a drop of gas
I’ve been a little distracted from blogging for the past week by the gas crisis that has settled slowly but inexorably over the region. Parts of the southeast have been in the midst of a massive gas shortage since Hurricane … Continue reading
Posted in ... the Hell?
3 Comments
James Malcolm Rymer’s Varney the Vampire
One of the reasons I enjoy writing this blog is that it gives me an excuse to hunt down and read obscure horror classics that were nonetheless highly influential on the genre. Last night I finished reading such a classic … Continue reading
Posted in Horror
6 Comments
Ebert writes a mean ‘Poe’
A few days ago, it was noted that Roger Ebert had posted an article titled, “Creationism: Your questions answered“. The article gives a straight-faced accounting of creationist beliefs, which was somewhat shocking to many fans who were familiar with Ebert’s … Continue reading
Posted in ... the Hell?
3 Comments
Meeting the Scibloggers…
The fiancée and I just returned this afternoon from attending the NC Scienceblogs celebration in honor of the millionth scienceblogs comment! We spent a nice afternoon at the Asheboro Zoo with a great collection of people, including Coturnix, Dave and … Continue reading
Posted in Personal
5 Comments
Edward Bulwer-Lytton’s The Last Days of Pompeii
One of the fun things about blogging about both science and horror fiction is the unusual connections that one can find between them. On of my favorite science topics outside of physics is vulcanology, which is why I read blogs … Continue reading
Posted in Horror, Mystery/thriller
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