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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. -
Author Archives: skullsinthestars
Optics basics: vector fields
In my regular discussions of optics and electromagnetic fields in general, I use a lot of pictures with arrows on them. For instance, my post on Faraday’s law has the curious figure, where the red arrows represent the “electric field” … Continue reading
Posted in Optics basics, Physics
4 Comments
Weird science facts — a full year of facts edition!!!!!
This past Sunday, I officially reached my goal of doing a full year’s worth of #weirdscifacts on Twitter — 365 days in a row of posting weird science!!!!!!!!! I will probably wind down my facts sometime in the future — … Continue reading
Posted in Weirdscifacts
6 Comments
The Giant’s Shoulders #33 is up!
Today’s the day to read your monthly compilation of history of science posts — The Giant’s Shoulders #33 is out at The Renaissance Mathematicus! ThonyC was busy, so Sascha the canine philosopher filled in to give us an excellent carnival … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Science news
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Weird science facts, March 2 — March 8
In less than a week, I’ll have done a #weirdscifacts a day for a full year!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Here are the past week’s facts: 354. Mar 02: Physics Nobelist Shockley was troubled, and once attempted suicide with solo game of Russian roulette. … Continue reading
Posted in Weirdscifacts
8 Comments
6 days until the deadline for The Giant’s Shoulders #33!
This is the monthly reminder that the deadline for The Giant’s Shoulders, the monthly history of science blog carnival, is only six days away! The Giants’ Shoulders #33 will be hosted by Sascha the canine philosopher at The Renaissance Mathematicus. Submissions as … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Science news
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Cats, cats, cats!
I’m struggling to get a new optics post going for the blog; I’ve got a number of possibilities I’m exploring, but it will likely take a few days to get it going. In the meantime, I realized I haven’t done … Continue reading
Posted in Animals, Personal
17 Comments
Peter Straub’s Ghost Story
I have historically had a curious quirk about my fiction reading that I suspect a lot of people share: the more famous a work is, the less motivated I am to read it. This may be the hipster within me … Continue reading
Posted in Horror
8 Comments
A short promotional post: Math Methods is available on Amazon!
At the risk of turning this blog into a series of shameless self-promotions (perhaps it is already too late), I should note that my textbook is now available on amazon.com! I wasn’t paying close attention, because Amazon originally showed it … Continue reading
Posted in Optics, Personal
6 Comments
My interview on Peer Review Radio!
Those who follow me on Twitter have already heard this, but for those who haven’t: I was interviewed by Adrian Ebsary for an episode of Peer Review Radio that was broadcast on Tuesday! The episode is titled, “Go sing it … Continue reading
Posted in General science, History of science, Personal
8 Comments
Weird science facts, February 23 — March 1
I’m getting tantalizingly close to having posted a full 365 days of #weirdscifacts on Twitter! Here are the past week’s facts: 347. Feb 23: Paleontologist C.D. Walcott (1850-1927) was inspired to study Cambrian strata when his wagon hit & split … Continue reading
Posted in Weirdscifacts
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Skulls in the Stars 