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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
Ruby Payne-Scott and the mystery of sunspots
This post is in belated honor of International Women’s Day 2020, March 8th, and highlights an important woman physicist who I was unaware of until recently! I think almost everybody is familiar with the phenomenon of sunspots: relatively dark patches … Continue reading
Posted in History of science, Physics, Women in science
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Book signing at Malaprop’s Bookstore in Asheville on March 18th!
I am happy to announce that my next book signing for Falling Felines and Fundamental Physics will take place on March 18th at 6 pm at Malaprop’s Bookstore in Asheville! Please consider coming out to hear me read from the … Continue reading
Posted in Personal, Physics
2 Comments
The Influence, by Ramsey Campbell
I’ve been trying to get together enough focus to start reading fiction regularly again, and there was no better way to spark that interest and begin 2020 than by reading one of my favorite authors of all time, Ramsey Campbell. … Continue reading
Posted in Horror
3 Comments
Visualizing the geometric phase of light!
Another post inspired by my book on Falling Felines and Fundamental Physics! I talk about geometric phases in the book in the context of falling cats, but here I focus on the polarization of light. I regularly argue that most … Continue reading
Old School Dungeons & Dragons: Part 12
Time again for another compilation of old School Dungeons & Dragons posts from twitter! I am still not tired of exploring the history and mechanics of classic RPGs and the adventures written for them. Bughunters (1993), by Lester Smith. We … Continue reading
Posted in Entertainment, Fantasy fiction
8 Comments
Fake Book Titles Extravaganza #3!
Time for another round of Fake Book Titles that I’ve done, compiled from twitter! You can see compilation 1 and compilation 2 at the links. These have proven to be a welcome distraction in stressful times. And, wow, I’ve done … Continue reading
Posted in ... the Hell?, Silliness
4 Comments
About a cat flip video!
Okay, even though my book is now out in the world and I spent years working on it, I still manage to come across new things that surprise me about the problem of the falling cat! A good example of … Continue reading
Posted in Animals, Physics
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A few more Falling Felines bits of news!
If you’re still not tired of Falling Felines and Fundamental Physics news, yesterday was a good day for new posts, which I thought I’d compile here, along with some earlier stuff I forgot to share! The Curiosity Daily Podcast interviewed … Continue reading
Posted in Animals, History of science, Personal
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Falling Felines at BBC Science Focus!
In case you’re not tired yet of hearing about my book on Falling Felines and Fundamental Physics, I wrote a post for BBC Science Focus Magazine about the falling cat phenomenon, which you can read here. A sample of the … Continue reading
Posted in Animals, Personal, Physics
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Skulls in the Stars 