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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
Weird science facts, December 29-January 4
We’ve entered a new year for my Twitter #weirdscifacts! The previous week’s facts are below: 291. Dec 29: In the late 19th century, paleontologist O.C. Marsh speculated that stegosaurus had a second brain in its rear! This was no so … Continue reading
Posted in Weirdscifacts
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Which scientist would you most want to have a beer with?
I’m currently away from home at a meeting, so blogging is necessarily light. I’ve been thinking lately, however, about various scientists and people of reason throughout history that I just flat out admire, and got to wondering which of them … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Women in science
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Margaret Cavendish’s The Blazing World (1666)
It is somewhat fascinating to note that certain genres of fiction have their beginnings much earlier than generally appreciated. Two years ago, I blogged about Edward Bulwer-Lytton’s unusual 1871 novel, The Coming Race, a utopian novel that counts as one … Continue reading
Posted in Science fiction
12 Comments
Weird science facts, December 22-December 28
With the holidays upon me, I haven’t had much time to blog, but I’ve made a special effort to keep up my Twitter #weirdscifacts! Here are the facts from December 22 through December 28. 284. Dec 22: Botanist David Douglass … Continue reading
Posted in Weirdscifacts
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ResearchBlogging editor’s selections: Dr. SkySkull’s last post!
“Dr. SkySkull” selects several notable posts each week from a miscellany of ResearchBlogging.org categories. He blogs at Skulls in the Stars. Welcome to my final post as the “miscellaneous” ResearchBlogging content editor! After 1 1/2 years of showcasing some of … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Science news
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Weird science facts, December 15-December 21
Here are the Twitter #weirdscifacts for December 15th through December 21st! 277. Dec 15: Thomas Midgley Jr., disabled engineer & chemist, died in 1944 when he was strangled by his self-designed bed pulley system. This one is as tragic as … Continue reading
Posted in Weirdscifacts
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The first glimmer of a nuclear Sun: radium and solar energy (1903)
While researching a recent post on the history of nuclear physics (here), I happened across a short but rather fascinating letter written in 1903. It seems to be the first article in print that makes the connection between the processes … Continue reading
Posted in History of science, Physics
5 Comments
ResearchBlogging editor’s selections: the artful dodge, ancient drugs, supermassive black holes and quantum spin
“Dr. SkySkull” selects several notable posts each week from a miscellany of ResearchBlogging.org categories. He blogs at Skulls in the Stars. The ‘artful dodge’: The danger of a smooth talker. These results could explain pretty much all of politics! Rita … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Science news
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The Giant’s Shoulders #30 is out!
The Giant’s Shoulders #30 is now out at Whewell’s Ghost, and is A (Scientific) Christmas Carol! Many thanks to Rebekah Higgitt for hosting and putting together a lovely carnival! The next edition is tentatively scheduled to be hosted at Morning Coffee … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Science news
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Weird science facts, December 8-December 14
Here are the Twitter #weirdscifacts for December 8th through December 14th! 270. Dec 08: Amazing trip of Isabel Godin des Odonais c. 1769 through the Amazon in search of her naturalist husband! (via@DrBondar‘s interview w/ Dr. Frederickson.) Isabel’s husband had traveled … Continue reading
Posted in Weirdscifacts
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Skulls in the Stars 