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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
The Purrfect kitty mats!
The other day, we received a nice package in the mail: catnip-laced mats for our cats! My cousin Judi makes and sells these and sent four of them to us as a wedding gift. They’ve been a big hit around … Continue reading
Posted in Animals
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300k page view milestone!
Just a short note: yesterday afternoon, I passed the milestone of 300k total page views! It wasn’t that long ago that I passed the 200k mark. Thanks to everyone who has been taking the time to visit the site and … Continue reading
Posted in Personal
5 Comments
ResearchBlogging editor’s selections: Antikythera, Admetus, and cyborg beetles!
The Antikythera Mechanism: Art or Science? The Antikythera Mechanism is a remarkable ancient machine which was discovered off the coast of the island of Antikythera in 1901; recent research has shown it to be more complicated than originally appreciated. Alun … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Science news
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Giants From Eternity, by Manly Wade Wellman
Having recently worked through Manly Wade Wellman’s wonderful Silver John novels, I thought I would take a look at some of his other speculative fiction. Thanks to all my Silver John purchases on Amazon, other Wellman novels have percolated up … Continue reading
Posted in Weird fiction
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Happy birthday to Mark Hamill!
Today “marks” Hamill’s 58th birthday! People are most familiar with Hamill’s star-making role as Luke Skywalker in the original Star Wars trilogy, which I still remember seeing in the theaters when it was originally released. But Hamill has had a … Continue reading
Posted in Entertainment
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The Discoverie of Witchcraft, by Reginald Scot (1584)
One topic that I’ve long had a fascination with is the history of skeptical and scientific thought. Human beings are naturally endowed with the ability to reason, but that reason is a far cry from a belief in a world … Continue reading
Posted in History of science, Religion
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ResearchBlogging editor’s selections: Science and the public
(Cross-posted at ResearchBlogging.org news.) This week I hereby declare an unofficial theme of “science and the public” for my editor’s selections; at least that’s the way it turned out when I was choosing posts! What motivates the Zooites? In 2007, … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Science news
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Cloud pareidolia of the day
On the way home from work the other day, I spotted the following cloud in the sky: So what does it look like to you?
Posted in ... the Hell?
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Cotton fields of South Carolina
The weather was iffy this morning, but I went out to the drop zone anyway to see if the weather would be good enough to make a skydive. It turns out it was; however, none of my usual jump friends … Continue reading
Posted in Personal, Travel
5 Comments
A shout-out on The Wife’s cooking!
While I’m thinking about it, I just wanted to thank The Wife again for making a really excellent gluten-free meatloaf for dinner last night! Meatloaf became one of my favorite meals in recent years, and I’ve really missed it since … Continue reading
Posted in Personal
11 Comments
Skulls in the Stars 