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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
Pests, by Bethany Brookshire
I’ve been meaning to read a lot more popular science books outside of my field lately, in order to broaden my knowledge and just get back in the habit of reading that I fell out of during the Dark Times … Continue reading
Posted in Animals, Science news
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The Handyman, by Lester Barclay
Originally posted on Skulls in the Stars:
Let’s tackle another invisibility story! This one is a little different, in that it is a story about an imaginary invisible friend! “The Handyman,” by Lester Barclay, appeared in the October 1950 issue…
Posted in Invisibility
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The Vanishing American, by Charles Beaumont
I found another invisibility story! This allows me to keep talking about invisibility for at least one more day, with a reminder that my book on the history and science of invisibility is now available. This next invisibility story is … Continue reading
Posted in Invisibility, Weird fiction
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Why is the polar bear white? The optics of polar bear pelts
You can find amazing and wonderful things when you browse old science journals. And when I say “old,” I don’t mean that you even have to go back very far. While I was tracking down an article in the journal … Continue reading
Priestess of the Moon, by Ray Cummings
Originally posted on Skulls in the Stars:
More invisibility? Okay, sure, why not. I may be cursed to blog about invisibility in fiction for the rest of my life. While preparing a post about McGivern’s “The Visible Invisible Man,” I…
Posted in Invisibility
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Fake Book Titles Extravaganza, Part 7!
It’s time to compile all my fake book titles from social media again! You can see compilation 1, compilation 2, compilation 3, compilation 4, compilation 5 and compilation 6 at the links. Somehow, @bhaal_spawn and I just keep doing these… and have been for years now! … Continue reading
Posted in ... the Hell?, Silliness
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Discussing Invisibility on Ologies!
All of you might be tired of hearing about my book at this point, but here’s another bit of fun news related to it: I joined Alie Ward on her great podcast Ologies to talk about “Invisible Photology,” aka invisibility! … Continue reading
Posted in Invisibility, Personal
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The Visible Invisible Man, by William P. McGivern
Originally posted on Skulls in the Stars:
Here’s another invisibility story — again, my book on the history and physics of invisibility will be out next year! The last we saw of William P. McGivern was his story “The Chameleon…
Posted in Invisibility
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The Vanishers, by Arthur J. Burks
Another invisibility story! This one’s more of a stretch, but it’s a fun one! Keeping up my reminders that my book on the history and science of invisibility is available now! Our next science fiction story related to invisibility is … Continue reading
Posted in Invisibility
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Junji Ito’s Tomie and Remina
I’ve been pretty obsessed with Junji Ito lately. I started out by purchasing two of his classics, Uzumaki and Gyo, and since then have been gobbling up various volumes and collections, even though every time I buy a new one … Continue reading
Posted in Horror
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