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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
Jeff Lindsay’s Dexter in the Dark
Jeff Lindsay stole my idea! Well, he didn’t, really, but I’m amused that the central plot of his most recent book, Dexter in the Dark, is stunningly similar to a short story that’s been sitting on my computer half finished … Continue reading
Vet pulls hook from shark’s stomach, by hand
Though a lot of people wouldn’t find this heart-warming, I did: an Australian veterinarian, David Blyde, ended up putting his arm into the jaws of a grey nurse shark to remove a steel fishing hook, saving the animal’s life. The … Continue reading
Posted in Animals
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E. and H. Heron’s Ghost Stories
A few months back, I did a post on ‘psychic detectives’ in fiction, discussing the classic detectives such as John Silence and Thomas Carnacki as well as some lesser-known and more modern detectives. My list was not complete, however, and … Continue reading
Posted in Horror
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The Giant’s Shoulders #1 is up!
The first edition of The Giant’s Shoulders is now up at A Blog Around The Clock. Being the first, there’s a huge number of entries to the carnival, so check it out! The next edition will happen at The Lay … Continue reading
Posted in Science news
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Einstein vs. Whittaker, with Born in the middle
My former thesis advisor is the greatest! I recently helped him update an electronic compilation of his collected papers, but refused any payment for my services. He ignored me and sent me a copy of The Born-Einstein Letters, a compilation … Continue reading
Posted in History of science, Physics, Relativity
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In depth: depth of focus and depth of field
Update: The original website with its digitally-altered ‘miniworld’ pics seems to have been taken down. I’ve constructed a few of my own ‘miniworld’ pics to give the reader an idea of what I’m talking about: From now on, I save … Continue reading
Posted in Optics
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Five days left until The Giant’s Shoulders!
Just a reminder that the deadline for submissions to the first edition of The Giant’s Shoulders is coming up on July 15th! Entries should be sent to Coturnix at A Blog Around The Clock. For the first edition, there is … Continue reading
Posted in Science news
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Invasion of the gluten-lacers!
I never thought I’d be happy to be diagnosed with a disease. I’ve teased my fiancée for some time for having a similar attitude. She has had chronic, misdiagnosed medical problems for quite a few years. Her frustration is palpable, … Continue reading
Posted in Health
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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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