Author Archives: skullsinthestars

The Tripods: The White Mountains, by John Christopher

Posted on June 15, 2025 by skullsinthestars

Book 17 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. Before there was The Hunger Games, or Divergent, there was … Continue reading →

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Crypt of the Moon Spider, by Nathan Ballingrud

Posted on June 13, 2025 by skullsinthestars

Book 16 for my 2025 goal of 30 books for the year!  The year is 1923. Veronica Brinkley is landing on the moon to get psychiatric treatment at the Barrowfield Home for the Treatment of the Melancholy. You didn’t read … Continue reading →

Posted in Horror | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

An introduction to quantum cryptography

Posted on June 5, 2025 by skullsinthestars

I’ve been brushing up on my quantum physics and quantum information science lately, and thought it would be good practice for me to give a little introduction to the idea of quantum cryptography, and one of the first strategies proposed … Continue reading →

Posted in Optics, Physics | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Rise of the Zombie Bugs, by Mindy Weisberger

Posted on June 2, 2025 by skullsinthestars

Book 15 for my 2025 goal of 30 books for the year! Had a significant hiatus of reading due to life stresses, but still ahead on my goal. Zombies are everywhere in fiction these days, from The Last of Us … Continue reading →

Posted in General science, Horror | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

RIP Cookie, 2010-2025

Posted on May 28, 2025 by skullsinthestars

I haven’t posted in a while because I have had a lot of stuff going on in my life. That culminated today in having to put my kitty Cookie to rest after her seizure episodes returned with intensity and would … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Personal | 7 Comments

Invisibility demos at UNC Charlotte STEAM Innovation Expo!

Posted on April 30, 2025 by skullsinthestars

This past Sunday, I participated once again in the annual UNC Charlotte STEAM Innovation Expo, in which faculty, staff and partners present science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics demonstrations and as well as demos highlighting the links between them. Last … Continue reading →

Posted in Invisibility, Personal | Leave a comment

Twice as Dead, by Harry Turtledove

Posted on April 18, 2025 by skullsinthestars

Book 14 for my 2025 goal of 30 books for the year! Hard-boiled detective stories often start in a similar manner: a gritty private investigator has a gorgeous dame walk through his office door with a case — but that … Continue reading →

Posted in Mystery/thriller, Weird fiction | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Nicol invents a polarizing prism (1828)

Posted on April 12, 2025 by skullsinthestars

I’ve talked a lot about polarization recently, including the story of how the best polarizing material was discovered on accident and how modern polarizers made from that material really changed science and technology in a major way. Along the way, … Continue reading →

Posted in History of science, Optics | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

My “Why I Love Horror” story!

Posted on April 8, 2025 by skullsinthestars

The other day, I happened to see that my social media friend and super talented horror author Brian Keene is a contributor to a book of essays called Why I Love Horror, coming in September of this year. The book … Continue reading →

Posted in Horror, Personal | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Donate to support kitty Mitzi’s cancer surgery!

Posted on April 7, 2025 by skullsinthestars

Hi all, my kitty Mitzi goes into surgery tomorrow to remove a cancerous growth on her nose. My impression from the surgeon and oncologist is that the outlook looks good for her, with no spread of the cancer elsewhere yet. … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Personal | Leave a comment