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The author of Skulls in the Stars is a 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. -
Yearly Archives: 2011
Weird science facts, May 25 — May 31
Here are the Twitter #weirdscifacts for the past week! 438. May 25: Halomonas titanicae, a new species of bacteria found in 2010 to be eating the Titanic! This is doubly odd, in that the bacteria eats iron oxide and also … Continue reading
Posted in Weirdscifacts
1 Comment
Mpemba’s baffling discovery: can hot water freeze before cold? (1969)
“My name is Erasto B Mpemba, and I am going to tell you about my discovery, which was due to misusing a refrigerator.” With those words, Tanzanian student Erasto Mpemba entered scientific history, and also sparked a scientific mystery and … Continue reading
Posted in Physics
164 Comments
Water has properties that are positively electrifying!
Most people certainly understand how important water is for our survival, but we often overlook how weird it can be. I can compile a short, though not exhaustive, list off the top of my head: Water is less dense in … Continue reading
Posted in Physics
49 Comments
Weird science facts, May 18 — May 24
Here are the Twitter #weirdscifacts for the past week! 431. May 18: Paris syndrome: some visitors to Paris experience hallucinations, feelings of persecution, etc. The city, which has such an influence on people’s imaginations around the world, apparently can overwhelm … Continue reading
Posted in Weirdscifacts
2 Comments
Foster kitten update!
I thought I would do an update on the status of the momma cat and her five kittens that we’ve been fostering! We’re now at the seventh week of age, and the kittens are really tiny versions of cats at … Continue reading
Posted in Animals, Personal
7 Comments
Weird science facts, May 11 — May 17
Still going strong on the #weirdscifacts! Here are the past week’s selections that appeared on Twitter. 424. May 11: The bombardier beetle: sprays boiling acid at any predators that attack it! 425. May 12: Anophthalmus hitleri — a blind cave … Continue reading
Posted in Weirdscifacts
4 Comments
A very silly David Brooks meme…
The other day, a photograph appeared on the internet(s) of conservative pundit David Brooks striking a ridiculously enthusiastic pose. The picture in question: Joshua Green, senior editor at The Atlantic, thought this picture was meme-worthy, and solicited creative uses of Brooks’ … Continue reading
Posted in ... the Hell?, Silliness
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The Giant’s Shoulders #35 is out!
The 35th edition of The Giant’s Shoulders is up at Jost a mon! Fëanor has put together an excellent illustrated edition of the carnival; many thanks to him! The next edition will be hosted by Darwin’s Bulldog at The Dispersal of Darwin; … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Science news
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Laird Barron’s Occultation
It didn’t take much for me to become a fan of Laird Barron’s writing. I first encountered the horror author’s work in the wonderful anthology Haunted Legends, and Barron’s story The Redfield Girls stood out as a beautifully written and … Continue reading
It’s not shrinkage — it’s relativity! (1889)
The best stories in the history of physics are those in which someone comes from humble origins and, seemingly out of nowhere, makes a brilliant discovery that changes everything. Such stories, however, can give a very misleading impression of the … Continue reading
Posted in History of science, Physics, Relativity
17 Comments
Skulls in the Stars 