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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
Light breaking its own speed limit: how ‘superluminal’ shenanigans work
In a previous optics basics post, we discussed challenges associated with trying to define the velocity of a localized wave or ‘pulse’ of light. Traditional measurements of the velocity of an object involve measuring how far Δd an object travels … Continue reading
Posted in Optics
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Half-Life, in Legos
Still some light posting this weekend, as I’m in the house-buying mode. Something I came across recently, which is a little old but entertaining: an enterprising Norwegian teenager has been recreating, with stop-motion animation and Legos, the entire first Half-Life … Continue reading
Math fonts in LaTeX
Over at The Daily Photon, Andrew Dawes has put up a nice post outlining how to use different fonts in LaTeX: including finding a math font that matches the text. I find this especially helpful because, in writing Powerpoint talks, … Continue reading
Posted in Mathematics
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Want conservatives on campus? Use socialism!
This made me laugh. Via The Agonist (through Crooks & Liars), we get the story of the Woessners, professors at Pennsylvania State University. The Woessners (one conservative, one liberal) did a study to investigate why so few conservatives end up … Continue reading
Blogroll update!
I finally decided to update my blogroll the other day with some of the sites that have quickly become required reading for me. It still amazes me how many great authors, in a variety of different disciplines and professions, are … Continue reading
Posted in Personal
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Relativity: Newtonian relativity
In the first post on Einstein’s relativity, we discussed the discoveries and theories which served as the precursors to Einstein’s work. The most significant of these is Newton’s own version of relativity, now dubbed ‘Newtonian relativity’. Before we continue a … Continue reading
Posted in Physics, Relativity
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Gun fanatics self-refute their own arguments (updated X 2)
In the wake of the appalling Northern Illinois University tragedy, it has been depressing to see the right-wing gun fanatics making the same tired and irrational arguments against any sort of gun regulation and, even worse, in favor of unrestricted … Continue reading
Posted in Politics
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Bentley Little’s The Return
My horror blogging has motivated me to go out and broaden my horizons and read some authors I’ve never considered before. Bentley Little’s 2002 book The Return, which is ostensibly about a legendary Bigfoot-like monster, the Mogollon Monster, and an … Continue reading
Posted in Horror
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Friday catblogging: Eleanor!
I’ve done a bit of catblogging before about my insane cat Zoe. Another cat inspired me to adopt Zoe in the first place, and I thought I’d share that story, since it’s still ongoing! After the fold, meet Eleanor!
Happy birthday to Simon Pegg!
I don’t want to get carried away with entertainment birthday posts, but I can’t miss the opportunity to give birthday wishes to a man who has cemented his reputation in action, comedy and horror… simultaneously in only two films! Happy … Continue reading
Posted in Entertainment
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Skulls in the Stars 