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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 Futurama is today! (updated)
There’s a nice article in Wired (h/t Pharyngula) about the return of Futurama to the entertainment world. Futurama was always given a bum rap by the networks, because it was unusual and more clever by far than the Simpsons episodes … Continue reading
Starship Troopers coming to a battlefield near you
I thought this was pretty cool. Remember when the powered armor in Heinlein’s Starship Troopers seemed so futuristic? Well, a company is developing exoskeleton suits for the military, and though I wouldn’t want to be running around on a combat … Continue reading
I pwned NaNoWriMo!
Well, I made the deadline! I officially made 50268 words at 1:20 am on November 28. My winner’s image: Which I display with pride. This takes care of the paperwork, but the irony is that the novel isn’t finished! I’ve … Continue reading
Last-minute Monday catblogging: The Terror!
I’m up late, writing my NaNoWriMo for the evening, but thought I’d take a break with a few pictures of Zoe! She’s still an incredibly sweet cat, as evidenced by this picture of her taking a break:
Cyrus Teed and the inside-out Earth
There’s some skepticism in the blogosphere, over the recent discussion of geocentrists and now, apparently, flat-earthers, that these web sites and trolls must be joking. Nobody could possibly believe such simple-minded tripe in our modern, rational world, could they? All … Continue reading
Yes, Virginia, the universe really does revolve around the Earth (not)
After you’ve read some of the science blogs for long enough, you start to think that there isn’t any amount of crackpottery that can surprise you. For instance, reading Good Math, Bad Math will expose you to an endless amount … Continue reading
A sign of the decline of western civilization
It’s a common observation amongst the liberal blogosphere that the media in the U.S. doesn’t do a terribly good job, and dumbs down things excessively. So I’m watching 60 Minutes tonight, and they have a segment about New York City’s … Continue reading
Passing the halfway point, and I’m ahead!
Well, yesterday marked the halfway point of November, and I managed to make and pass my NaNoWriMo goal of 25,000 words total by the end of the day, and even go past it. I was a little behind during the … Continue reading
Ghost cat!
Can I combine catblogging and horror blogging? I’m going to try! The past couple of nights, I’ve sensed a restless presence in my home. I’ve heard strange sounds and seen motion out of the corner of my eye. At last, … Continue reading
Optics basics: What is a wave? Part II: Interference
In the first part of my series on ‘What is a wave?’, I attempted to give a broad definition of a wave, so that we can identify them when we see them. In this part, I will address two of … Continue reading
Skulls in the Stars 