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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
A visit to Mount Hope Cemetery
While in Rochester, NY for the Frontiers in Optics 2010 meeting of the Optical Society of America, the wife and I had a little free time available to take a tour of the lovely and venerable Mount Hope Cemetery. Founded … Continue reading
Posted in Cemetery, Travel
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Weird science facts, September 12-September 25
I’ve been at the OSA Frontiers in Optics meeting in Rochester this week, and haven’t had any time to get blogging done (the absence of wifi in the convention hall and the crappy wifi in the Hyatt didn’t help). Nevertheless, … Continue reading
Posted in Weirdscifacts
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ResearchBlogging editor’s selections: eye jumping, Mesa Verde water control and Saudi Arabian volcanoes
“Dr. SkySkull” selects several notable posts each week from a miscellany of ResearchBlogging.org categories. He blogs at Skulls in the Stars. (I’m out of town at a meeting this week, and didn’t have as much time to read all the … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Science news
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Kitty fostering breakthrough!
As I’ve noted in a previous blog post, my wife and I have been fostering a brother/sister pair of cats, named Mandarin and Mango, for the past several weeks. Some more recent pictures, first of Mandarin at play: and of … Continue reading
Posted in Animals, Personal
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Weird science facts, August 29-September 11
Time for your weekly helping of #weirdscifacts, from August 29-September 11!
Posted in Weirdscifacts
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ResearchBlogging editor’s selections: Aboriginal astronomy, the CO2 climate knob, the pain files, and cannibal Tyrannosaur X2
“Dr. SkySkull” selects several notable posts each week from a miscellany of ResearchBlogging.org categories. He blogs at Skulls in the Stars. Sorry for a late batch of selections this week! There are more things in heaven and earth, cobber, than … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Science news
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Scicurious reports on an overdramatic rattlesnake bite! (1747)
While researching my Franklin posts, I happened upon a very entertaining paper from 1747, in which a man describes in excessively melodramatic detail the effects of a rattlesnake bite upon himself. In the spirit of interblog cooperation, I passed the … Continue reading
Posted in ... the Hell?, History of science
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Benjamin Franklin’s electrical feast! (1748)
While researching my recent post on Benjamin Franklin’s electrical kite I read through much of Franklin’s scientific correspondence, and found quite a few gems! Though there is much of substance yet to be discussed in Franklin’s scientific experiments, I can’t … Continue reading
Posted in ... the Hell?, History of science
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The Giant’s Shoulders #28 is out!
Jai Virdi has posted her special edition of The Giant’s Shoulders ‘Visuals & Representations’ at her blog From the Hands of Quacks. True to the theme, the carnival has a nice collection of pictures to delight and horrify! Thanks to Jai … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Science news
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Datlow and Mamatas’ “Haunted Legends”
I can always tell when Halloween is near — wandering through the bookstore, I inevitably find multiple new books of horror that I absolutely cannot resist. This time around, I found three must-have hardcovers, putting a significant dent in my … Continue reading
Posted in Horror
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Skulls in the Stars 