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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
Manly Wade Wellman’s Silver John novels
A few months ago, The Ridger noted the birthday of weird fiction author Manly Wade Wellman, and introduced me to his character “John the Balladeer”, also known as “Silver John” but typically just known as “John”: an Appalachian mountain man … Continue reading
Posted in Weird fiction
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Time for a new call for The Giant’s Shoulders hosts!
Hi all — I’m planning to keep The Giant’s Shoulders as a monthly event for the foreseeable future, but we’re going to need some more hosts! If you’re willing to host an upcoming edition of TGS, please let me know … Continue reading
Posted in Science news
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The Giant’s Shoulders #15 is up!
The fifteenth edition of The Giant’s Shoulders is up at Entertaining Research! Many thanks to guru for putting it together! The deadline for the next edition is October 15th, and it will be held at Quiche Moraine. Entries can be … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Science news
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ResearchBlogging Editor’s Selections: Floating mice, sinking Mobius rings, topsy-turvy climate change — and 50 million chemicals
Next they’ll tell me that pigs can fly. You may have heard a few years back about researchers levitating frogs with powerful magnets. But why should amphibians have all the fun? Christie at Observations of a Nerd describes recent research … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Science news
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Will the internet kill the university? Maybe, maybe not
A few days ago, Chad at Uncertain Principles commented on an article which predicts the death of the traditional university at the hands of online “colleges” offering unlimited classes for $99/month. I thought Chad did a fine job of tamping … Continue reading
Posted in ... the Hell?, General science
6 Comments
Quasicrystals… now all natural!
This result came out a few months ago, and I’ve been looking for the time to write about it ever since: in a paper published in the June 5 issue of Science, scientists reported the discovery of the first natural … Continue reading
Posted in Physics
5 Comments
What iPhone apps are ‘must have’?
Well, I finally broke down and got myself an iPhone! My Verizon contract was up, and my phone was getting pretty beat up. Verizon had been getting on my nerves over the past few years with shenanigans such as this … Continue reading
Posted in Personal
8 Comments
Editor’s selections: Galactic light switches, deadly rhododendrons, and railways of light
Quasar light switches. You don’t want light switches like this at home! Emma at we are all in the gutter talks about recent research concerning quasars and active galactic nuclei — after powering down, they can sometimes start back up … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Science news
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9 days until The Giant’s Shoulders #15!
There’s 9 days left until the deadline for The Giant’s Shoulders #15! It will be hosted at Entertaining Research, and entries can be submitted through blogcarnival.com or directly to the host blog, as usual!
Posted in General science, Science news
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Computed tomography as art
A friend (h/t David) sent this to me a bit over a week ago, and now that I’m less distracted by work, I thought I’d pass it along! On August 23rd, The Daily Mail reported on a new science-based art … Continue reading
Posted in Physics
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Skulls in the Stars 