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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
1891: Chandler finds a wobble
Sometimes, in science, it turns out that the best way to find something is to not be looking for it at all. This is more or less what happened in 1891, when an amateur astronomer and full-time insurance actuary observed … Continue reading
Posted in History of science, Physics
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Never Bet the Devil and Other Warnings, by Orrin Grey
The first time I encountered Orrin Grey’s work, it wasn’t even his fiction! He wrote the introduction to the Valancourt edition of J.B. Priestley’s 1927 novel Benighted, and I was struck then with his knowledge and insight into classic horror. … Continue reading
Posted in Horror, Weird fiction
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The Endless Fall, by Jeffrey Thomas
Though I’ve been in a bit of a reading funk the past few months due to life, work and stress, I managed to find one thing that helped me break out of it: long airline flights. Between recent trips to … Continue reading
Posted in Horror
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The Valancourt Book of Horror Stories, Volume 2
Just in time to enjoy for Halloween, Valancourt Books has recently released their second volume of horror stories, in The Valancourt Book of Horror Stories, Volume 2! The volume contains 14 stories of terror and the supernatural in VBHSv2, encompassing … Continue reading
Posted in Horror
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Halloween Treats 2017
It is getting really challenging not to repeat myself with these annual samples of classic horror stories for Halloween, as I’ve been doing this for ten years! You can read the old editions here: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and my 2010 post on the … Continue reading
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What is quantum entanglement? Part 6: Locality, reality, and John Bell
This is part 6 in a lengthy series of posts attempting to explain the idea of quantum entanglement to a non-physics audience. Part 1 can be read here, Part 2 can be read here, Part 3 here, Part 4 here, and Part 5 here. … Continue reading
Posted in History of science, Physics
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The Devil in a Domino, by Chas L’Epine
Thanks to having lots to do at work, a lot of chaos in my life, and a lot of worry about the world in general, I haven’t been able to concentrate well on reading fiction lately. What I need at … Continue reading
Posted in Horror
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Dr. SkySkull in Rome: Via Appia
Final part in a series of photo essays on my recent trip to Rome. Part 1 can be read here, Part 2 can be read here, Part 3 can be read here, and Part 4 can be read here. Sunday was our … Continue reading
Posted in Personal, Travel
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Dr. SkySkull in Rome: the Vatican Museums
Part 4 of a series of photo essays on my recent trip to Rome. Part 1 can be read here, Part 2 can be read here, and Part 3 can be read here. On day 4 of our Rome adventure, we decided … Continue reading
Posted in Personal, Travel
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Optics in the solar eclipse!
Just a very short note: I’m on the road, aiming to be in the path of totality of the solar eclipse hitting tomorrow. One of the things I’m going to be looking at, in addition to the ghostly hidden sun, … Continue reading
Posted in Optics, Physics
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Skulls in the Stars 