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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 Hole of the Pit, by Adrian Ross
Been working ridiculously hard lately, which is the explanation for my long absence from posting. Sorry about that! Hope to get back into the swing of things with this horror novel post. The most fun books to read are often … Continue reading
Dr. SkySkull in Greece: The National Archaeological Museum
The last in my series of blog posts about my recent trips to Finland and Greece. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4 can be read at the links. My flight out of Athens on my day of … Continue reading
Posted in Personal, Travel
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Dr. SkySkull in Greece: Walking around Athens
In my last travel post, I talked about my first evening in Athens, in which I walked around with a new friend and explored the Acropolis and a number of other ancient sites. The next day I had all to … Continue reading
Dr. SkySkull in Greece: The Acropolis
In my last travel post, I described a little bit of the island of Spetses in Greece, where my second optics workshop took place. As the workshop schedule didn’t include any crucial talks on the last day I was originally … Continue reading
The Searching Dead and Born to the Dark, by Ramsey Campbell
Though Ramsey Campbell is my favorite horror author, I somehow manage to always be “late to the party” when it comes to his newest releases. In the most recent case, however, it was entirely my fault: I ordered a signed, … Continue reading
Posted in Horror
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Dr. SkySkull in Greece: The cats of Spetses
In my last post, I summarized quickly the first week of my recent two week work trip, which took place in Joensuu, Finland. The second week took place in Greece, and there was so much history and beauty packed into … Continue reading
Dr. SkySkull in Finland: Koli National Park
Whew! I just got back from a long two-week trip to Europe, in order to attend a pair of optics meetings. The first of these was in Joensuu, Finland, and the second was on the island of Spetses in Greece. … Continue reading
Posted in Personal, Travel
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Dead Reckonings #23 is available!
Interested in reading literary critiques of the latest horror fiction, and analyses of the same? Well, you’re in luck, because issue #23 of the Hippocampus Press literary magazine Dead Reckonings is now available! As in a number of earlier volumes, … Continue reading
Posted in Horror, Personal
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Dr. SkySkull in Mexico: The Great Pyramid of Cholula
A couple of weeks ago, as a part of the SPIE Visiting Lecturer program, I went and gave three talks at the Instituto Nacional de Astrofísica, Óptica y Electrónica (INAOE) in Cholula, Mexico. I had a great time, the Institute is … Continue reading
RIP Emil Wolf, 1922-2018
On Saturday morning, my PhD advisor and friend Professor Emil Wolf passed away at the age of 95. He was a singularly gifted scientist as well as an extraordinarily kind and wise person. It is fair to say that I … Continue reading
Posted in Optics, Personal
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Skulls in the Stars 