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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
ResearchBlogging editor’s selections: wayward galaxy clusters, air batteries, and the Toucan’s bill
hey, where are those galaxy clusters going? Greg Fish at weird things describes “dark flow”, a mysterious unexplained pull that some clusters of galaxies are experiencing. Recharge your batteries. calvinus at Post Tenebras Lux tells us about an intriguing new … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Science news
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Another kitty in da house!
And this time it’s a real kitten, only six months old. We’re fostering her for a while until we can find her a good home. Her name is Sophie, and she’s a very sweet kitty. Here’s a picture of her … Continue reading
Posted in Animals
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Reversing optical “shockwaves” using metamaterials (updated)
In a recent issue of Physical Review Letters was an article with the intriguing (to me) title of “Experimental verification of reversed Cherenkov radiation in left-handed metamaterial,” by a collaboration from Zhejiang University in China and MIT. The paper is … Continue reading
Posted in Optics
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Benjamin Franklin’s words on the Constitution
On Tuesday night, almost on the eve of a historic Senate vote on expanding health care coverage for Americans, hundreds of people congregated outside of Joe Lieberman’s Connecticut house in a candlelight vigil to advocate for healthcare reform. The vigil, … Continue reading
Posted in Politics
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The Giant’s Shoulders #17 — Darwin Sesquicentennial Edition — is up!
The seventeenth edition of The Giant’s Shoulders is up at The Primate Diaries! Eric Michael Johnson put together an excellent Darwin Sesquicentennial Edition! The deadline for the next edition is December 15th, and it will be held at Just a … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Science news
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ResearchBlogging editor’s selections: water on the sun, nanotubes in the garden, mysterious magnetic field reversals, and ancient Chinese roads
Water on the Sun. If you thought finding water on the moon was surprising, let Invader Xan at Supernova Condensate explain how water has now been found on the surface of the Sun! Sprucing up your garden with carbon nanotubes. … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Science news
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It’s confirmed; my cats are trying to kill me
I never believed it when people told me that their cats are trying to kill them. Well, I never believed it until last night. The wife and I were watching television, and I got up to make some popcorn. While … Continue reading
Posted in Animals, Silliness
3 Comments
Henry Kuttner’s Destination Infinity
Henry Kuttner is, for me, one of those authors who never disappoints, and is always thought-provoking. He had an incredibly vivid imagination, and each of his works is absolutely unique, seamlessly blending pulp adventure with science fiction. I’ve discussed a … Continue reading
Posted in Science fiction
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ResearchBlogging editor’s selections: Thermodynamic CEOs, tidal landslides, alien fossils, and anime
Thermodynamics shows US chief executives are paid nearly 130 times too much. From Jacob Aron at Just a Theory, we learn of the use of entropy calculations to demonstrate that U.S. CEOs are paid far more than they should be. … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Science news
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Skulls in the Stars 