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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, March 14-March 27
Several months ago, I started a “tag” on Twitter called #weirdscifacts, in which I am chronicling in short form various little oddities about the people, events, and phenomena of science. I’ve vowed to do these facts daily for a full … Continue reading
ResearchBlogging editor’s selections: WEIRD science, copycat suicides, square quantum mechanics, nanophobia and Mars’ oceans
Are most experimental subjects in behavioral science WEIRD? “Weird” here is an acronym, but also reflects the idea that the representative samples in behavioral science aren’t really that representative of humanity as a whole. Michael Meadon of Ionian Enchantment discusses … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Science news
1 Comment
5-way formation skydive!
It occurred to me, after some discussion on Twitter, that I haven’t posted any skydiving videos for a while! Part of the problem is that I haven’t had that many videos taken over the past half-year; the other part of … Continue reading
Release the kraken! (1790)
This is a science topic that isn’t really my field, but it’s just so charming that I had to post about it. While browsing through the Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh from 1790, I found a note titled, … Continue reading
Posted in General science, History of science
6 Comments
Cerenkov sees the light (1937)
This particular post serves a double purpose: highlighting an important event in the history of physics and highlighting an important moment of my personal interest in said history! The event in question is the publication of a letter in the … Continue reading
Posted in History of science, Physics
27 Comments
ResearchBlogging editor’s selections: why no wheels?, GADZOOKS!, butterfly faces and gravity’s existence
Why no wheels? At Gambler’s House, teofilo endeavors to explain why ancient cultures throughout the Americas didn’t make use of the wheel — even when they understood its principles! Acro-tastic! (with additional GADZOOKS!). Over at we are all in the … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Science news
9 Comments
Skullsinthestars featured in the local paper!
This is nice — my blog work has been featured in my local newspaper, The Charlotte Observer! It’s a relatively short piece, and in hindsight I wish I had said things a bit differently, but it’s always nice to get … Continue reading
Posted in Personal
10 Comments
Welcome ThonyC as co-manager of The Giant’s Shoulders!
I’ve been thinking for a while that I would like to get some additional help and suggestions on how to keep The Giant’s Shoulders history of science carnival going and come up with new ideas for it. Well, I finally … Continue reading
Posted in History of science, Science news
2 Comments
The Giant’s Shoulders #25, 2nd anniversary edition, is out!
The Giant’s Shoulders #25 is officially out at The Dispersal of Darwin, and it marks the two year anniversary since the first carnival! In honor of it, Michael has put together a truly massive list of posts for the month, … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Science news
3 Comments
Marie Corelli’s Vendetta
Marie Corelli (1855-1924) is another of those curious set of authors whose work was stunningly successful during their lifetime but is virtually unknown today. This neglect is often independent of the quality of the writing: Richard Marsh, another Victorian/Edwardian era … Continue reading
Posted in Mystery/thriller
11 Comments
Skulls in the Stars 