-
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 Dark Host, by Archie Roy
Let’s take a look at one of the most obscure books I’ve ever read! So, I’ve written about the work of Archie Roy before, in particular his novel Devil in the Darkness (1978), a remarkably good haunted house story. In … Continue reading
Posted in Mystery/thriller
2 Comments
Some book news!
First of all, I got news that The New York Times may be running the review of my book on Invisibility in the Sunday, June 4th issue! Previously, the review appeared online way back in mid-April. This hasn’t been officially … Continue reading
Posted in Invisibility, Personal
Leave a comment
Optics basics: thin films
Color can have surprising origins in nature. Most of the time, the color of an object is dictated by the light it absorbs: for example, if you see an object that is blue, that means that it reflects all the … Continue reading
Posted in Optics basics
5 Comments
“Invisibility” on the Colin McEnroe Show!
I get to share another interview that I did about invisibility today, this time live on the Colin McEnroe Show on WNPR in Connecticut! It was a great conversation! It started with me talking about the science of invisibility, and … Continue reading
Posted in Invisibility, Personal
Leave a comment
A short musical interlude…
I’m still working on posting something to the blog every day for a certain number of days! Tonight, I’m a little exhausted and don’t have a lot of time to finish a new optics post, so I thought I’d share … Continue reading
Posted in Entertainment, Personal
Leave a comment
The Little Black Bag, by C.M. Kornbluth
As long as I’ve been having fun tracking down classic science fiction stories that I absolutely love, let me share at least one more! “The Little Black Bag,” by C.M. Kornbluth, first appeared in the July 1950 issue of Astounding … Continue reading
Posted in Science fiction
3 Comments
Prisoner of the Vampires of Mars, by Gustave Le Rouge
Sometimes you just have to read a book because of its title. This was certainly the case when I decided I wanted to read Prisoner of the Vampires of Mars (1908-1909), by Gustave Le Rouge! Like, the title has everything! … Continue reading
Posted in Invisibility, Science fiction
Leave a comment
So, what is “structured light?”
The fields of optical science and engineering have undergone dramatic changes over the past twenty years. Through most of its history, stretching back for hundreds of years, optics researchers have been asking the question, “what can light do?” Revolutionary discoveries … Continue reading
Posted in Optics
Leave a comment
Relook at “Giants From Eternity,” by Manly Wade Wellman
In my investigations of classic pulp magazines over the past year, I’ve come across some classic stories and real gems that I had forgotten about. One of these guilty pleasures is “Giants From Eternity,” by Manly Wade Wellman, published in … Continue reading
Posted in Science fiction
Leave a comment
A Subway Named Mobius, by A.J. Deutsch
I’ve spent a lot of time talking about short stories about invisibility, but my searches have occasionally reminded me of some of my other favorite, non-invisibility-related, science fiction stories. Today I thought I’d take a short look at “A Subway … Continue reading
Posted in Mathematics, Science fiction
1 Comment
Skulls in the Stars 