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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
Whittaker breaks the irony meter (1910/1953)
I’m currently working my way through E.T. Whittaker‘s monumental A History of the Theories of Aether and Electricity (1910), among other things. Whittaker’s book is a very comprehensive study of electricity and aether that stretches back from the seventeenth century … Continue reading
Posted in ... the Hell?, History of science, Physics
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R.W. Wood’s lecture demonstrations (1897-1905)
With all the concerted efforts into popularizing science that goes on these days, it is quite easy to forget that some of the best scientists throughout history put a lot of effort into making their knowledge accessible both to students … Continue reading
Posted in History of science, Physics
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5 days until The Giant’s Shoulders #27!
There’s only 11 days left before the deadline of the next edition of The Giant’s Shoulders history of science blog carnival! It will be held at Entertaining Research, and the deadline for entries is September 15th. Entries can be submitted … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Science news
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Weird science facts, June 6-June 19
The Twitter #weirdscifacts from June 06 – June 19 are below the fold!
Posted in Weirdscifacts
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Making molecular motors (video)
My friend and colleague, Dr. Charles Sykes of Tufts University, recently sent me a link to an interesting video his research group has put together! Dr. Sykes’ group has been studying the behavior of complex molecules on surfaces at low … Continue reading
Posted in General science
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ResearchBlogging editor's selections: age of the Earth, hacking quantum cryptography, American camels and free kick physics
“Dr. SkySkull” selects several notable posts each week from a miscellany of ResearchBlogging.org categories. He blogs at Skulls in the Stars. When a few million years don’t mean much… Recent investigations have revised scientific estimates of the age of the … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Science news
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Physical Review Letters gives a WARNING!!! (1958)
Though scientific knowledge has increased by leaps and bounds throughout the course of human history, human nature itself hasn’t changed very much! Looking through the old scientific journals, one can find arguments and conflicts that are still in some form … Continue reading
Posted in ... the Hell?, History of science
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Conservation mode/growing pains
What Christina said: We’re putting scientopia basically in to conservation mode to conserve resources until we get hosting issues squared away. So we’ll have no commenting on new posts for a bit. This isn’t a sinister plot to stifle dissenting … Continue reading
Posted in ... the Hell?
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Weird science facts, May 23-June 05
The Twitter #weirdscifacts from May 23 – June 05 are below the fold!
Posted in Weirdscifacts, [PhysicalScience]
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Kitty fostering: Brewster and Breyer!
I’ll be doing more physics blogging in the near future — I promise! Work is keeping me quite busy at the moment and I haven’t had much spare time or energy to investigate topics in depth. Hopefully that will change … Continue reading
Posted in Animals, Personal, [Etc]
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Skulls in the Stars 