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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
Women published in the Royal Society, 1890-1930
I’ve been struggling to think of a woman scientist to profile for Ada Lovelace Day! Ada Lovelace (1815-1852) was a brilliant woman mathematician and arguably the first computer programmer, designing a program for Charles Babbage’s (never constructed) Analytical Engine. Ada … Continue reading
Posted in General science, History of science, Women in science
12 Comments
Pwned by a historian of science!
I knew this moment would come eventually! As an amateur scholar of the history of science, I’ve dreaded the day that I get my facts screwed up enough to bring commentary from an actual historian. Well, that day has come … Continue reading
Posted in History of science
6 Comments
ResearchBlogging editor’s selections: the Irish-Caribbean, Earth’s early years, wound-healing and nest-building, and large quantum objects
The Irish Diaspora: Why Even Trinidadians Are a Little Irish. On the heels of St. Patrick’s Day, Krystal at Anthropology in Practice tells the fascinating and little-known tale of why there is an Irish influence in the British Caribbean. Earth’s … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Science news
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My talk on “Forgotten milestones in the history of optics”
I just got finished giving a talk to the graduate students of my department on “Forgotten milestones in the history of optics”. The talk seemed to be very well-received, and I’ve already had faculty suggesting that I should give it … Continue reading
Posted in History of science, Optics
15 Comments
The Giant’s Shoulders #21 is up!
The twenty-first edition of The Giant’s Shoulders is up at PACHSmörgåsbord, just in time to commemorate the birthday of Caroline Herschel! Many thanks to Darin for assembling it! The deadline for the next edition is April 15th, and it will … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Science news
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ResearchBlogging editor’s selections: corporate water abuse, vanishing audiophiles, artificial coffee smelling and 60k-year-old canteens
Coca-Cola and Water Use in India: “Good Till the Last Drop”. Eric Michael Johnson at The Primate Diaries describes the shocking and little-heard of abuse of water resources by Coca-Cola in India. (I was drinking a Coke when I read … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Science news
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Jeff Rice’s The Kolchak Papers
On Saturday, April 25, at about 2:30 A.M., Cheryl Ann Hughes was tapping her foot angrily as she waited at the corner of Second and Fremont streets. She glanced repeatedly at her watch. The young man she was currently living … Continue reading
Posted in Horror
9 Comments
A new optics blog: Internal Reflections
There’s a new optics-related blog out there! A friend and colleague sent me notice that the company he works for, ASE Optics, has started its own blog, called Internal Reflections. Quoting their “about” page, This blog is a place to … Continue reading
Perpetual motion — nonsense for over 100 years
Some two years ago, I wrote a post about a device called the “whipmag”, a thinly-disguised perpetual motion machine based on magnets that would supposedly accelerate without an external source of energy once set in motion. I was understandably critical … Continue reading
Posted in ... the Hell?, History of science
24 Comments
7 days until The Giant’s Shoulders #21!
There’s 7 days left until the deadline for The Giant’s Shoulders #21! It will be held at PACHSmörgåsbord, and entries can be submitted through blogcarnival.com or directly to the host blog, as usual! We still could REALLY use some more … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Science news
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Skulls in the Stars 