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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
My search for boardgames for seniors
I’m now in my mid-50s and my parents are in their 80s and are starting to experience the age-related cognitive problems that most of us will eventually encounter if we live that long. My dad in particular has very poor … Continue reading
Between Two Rivers, by Moudhy Al-Rashid
Book 26 for my 2025 goal of 30 books for the year! As is now default for me, my link to the book is through my bookshop dot org affiliate account. I have long had a huge fascination with the ancient Near East, fostered … Continue reading
Posted in History, History of science
Tagged book review, books, History, mesopotamia
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What is a Carnot engine?
I’ve recently been trying to “relearn” thermodynamics, a subject that I haven’t really looked at, or had to look at, for years. I put “relearn” in quotes because I never really learned it well in the first place! One of … Continue reading
Posted in History of science, Physics
Tagged energy, philosophy, Physics, science, technology
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The Dead Come to Stay, by Brandy Schillace
Book 24 for my 2025 goal of 30 books for the year! As is now default for me, my link to the book is through my bookshop dot org affiliate account. I’ve been online friends with Brandy Schillace for a number of years … Continue reading
Conan the Barbarian: Twisting Loyalties, by Jim Zub
Book 23 for my 2025 goal of 30 books for the year! As is now default for me, my link to the book is through my bookshop dot org affiliate account. I haven’t read many comics in recent years, even though I was … Continue reading
Posted in Fantasy fiction, Robert E. Howard
Tagged books, comic-books, comics, fantasy
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18 years of Skulls in the Stars!
I’m pretty bad with anniversaries, so I’m glad that WordPress reminded me! Today marks 18 years of blogging at Skulls in the Stars. What started as a fleeting experiment became a pretty significant part of my life. 18 years… wow. … Continue reading
Posted in Personal
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Maxwell invents a demon, people get angry (1879)
Some time ago, I was browsing 150 year old popular science magazines as one does and I found an amusing editorial from 1879 in The Popular Science Monthly titled “Explanations that do not explain.” The unsigned editorial discussed a recent … Continue reading
The Tripods: The Pool of Fire, by John Christopher
Book 22 for my 2025 goal of 30 books for the year! As is now default for me, my link to the book is through my bookshop dot org affiliate account. In each of the modern printings of John Christopher’s The Tripods books, … Continue reading
Posted in Science fiction
Tagged book review, book-reviews, books, Fiction, science fiction
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The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: The White Worm, by Sam Siciliano
Book 21 for my 2025 goal of 30 books for the year! As is now default for me, my link to the book is through my bookshop dot org affiliate account. Some books look intriguing to me when I first get them, but … Continue reading
Posted in Mystery/thriller
Tagged book review, books, Fiction, mystery, sherlock-holmes
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Skulls in the Stars 