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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
Rant time: The End of Theory? (Updated)
This one’s already been passed around the blogosphere like a cheap bottle of wine, but I feel the urge to comment on it myself. A recent issue of Wired Magazine has an essay by Chris Anderson with the very provocative … Continue reading
Posted in ... the Hell?, General science, Science news
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Richard Marsh’s The Magnetic Girl
I thought I’d do a post on one more book by Richard Marsh that I’ve read, The Magnetic Girl (1903), currently only available on Google books. The Magnetic Girl is significantly different than the other books by Marsh that I’ve … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy fiction
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Lawn chair ballooning lives on!
Via CNN, I learn today that Kent Couch of Bend, Oregon managed to fly 200 miles from Oregon to Idaho in a lawn chair ‘powered’ by helium balloons. Such stories have long been ‘urban legend’ fodder, ever since the first … Continue reading
Posted in Sports
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What a drag: Arago’s Experiment (1810)
Note: This post is my contribution to the first-ever edition of The Giant’s Shoulders, a new blog event compiling posts concerning classic science papers. I’ve been meaning to get back to my series of posts on relativity, but things have … Continue reading
Posted in History of science, Optics, Physics, Relativity
20 Comments
Metropolis, complete at last (?)
Via Blake at Science After Sunclipse, I learn that a complete version of Fritz Lang’s silent masterpiece Metropolis has been found in Buenos Aires. I’m quite excited about this. For those who haven’t seen it, Metropolis is arguably the greatest … Continue reading
Posted in Entertainment
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An old, old die…
As long as I’ve got dice on my mind, I should point out this glass 20-sided die that dates back to 2nd century Rome: But $17,925 for it? I have old Dungeons and Dragons dice that look to be in … Continue reading
Posted in Silliness
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How well do YOU know Africa?
Via The Carpetbagger Report, we learn that McCain confused Somalia with Sudan in a discussion with reporters several days ago. This was probably him misspeaking, but he’s been doing that a lot lately and it isn’t an encouraging sign. This … Continue reading
Posted in Politics
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Still moving…
Whew! The fiancée and I are finally in the new house, after about four days of continuous work. I’ll try and get back into the blogging swing o’ things in a couple of days, though of course we’ve still got … Continue reading
Posted in ... the Hell?
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“You realize, of course, that chaos theory predicts that your criminal plans will fail.”
This one’s a shocker: Chris Noth is leaving Law & Order: Criminal Intent, to be replaced by… Jeff Goldblum. On the other hand, Goldblum does have experience playing in a disturbing, psychological drama (and I don’t mean Independence Day).
Posted in ... the Hell?, Entertainment
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Skulls in the Stars 