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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
Dr. SkySkull in Amsterdam: Optics in the Rijksmuseum
The lower level of the Rijksmuseum, an area relatively few time-strapped visitors manage to visit, is reserved for more practical forms of art: musical instruments, ceramics, ship figureheads, weapons, and the like. I explored this whole area on my recent … Continue reading
Posted in Entertainment, History of science, Optics, Travel
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Dr. SkySkull in Amsterdam: A silly tour of the Rijksmuseum
I’ve been rather quiet lately because of work and travel! A bit over a week ago, I flew to Amsterdam to participate in a PhD defense, and then traveled to Rome to give a talk and tour the city, which … Continue reading
Posted in Travel
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Agents of Dreamland, by Caitlin R. Kiernan
Taking a brief break from posts on quantum entanglement — will be back with more on that subject soon! Meanwhile… Caitlin R. Kiernan is a brilliant writer. This is an indisputable fact. Several years ago, I blogged about her beautiful, … Continue reading
Posted in Horror
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What is quantum entanglement? Part 5: Making it happen
This is part 5 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, and Part 4 here. So … Continue reading
Posted in Optics, Physics
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What is quantum entanglement? Part 4: relativity and entanglement
This is part 4 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, and Part 3 here. In the last … Continue reading
Posted in Physics
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What is quantum entanglement? Part 3: Entanglement, at last
This is part 3 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, and Part 2 can be read here. Here, in part 3, we will at … Continue reading
Posted in History of science, Physics
15 Comments
Coming in 2018: Falling Felines and Fundamental Physics!
I’ve only been hinting at this revelation so far, but I am finally ready to let the cat out of the bag — almost literally! I have signed a contract with Yale University Press to write my first popular science book, … Continue reading
Posted in Animals, History of science, Personal, Physics
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What is quantum entanglement? Part 2: Randomness and measurement
This is part 2 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. So, by the mid 1920s, physicists had made significant progress in developing the … Continue reading
Posted in History of science, Physics
9 Comments
What is Quantum Entanglement? Part 1: Waves and particles
If you follow science, or science fiction, to any degree, great or small, you’ve probably heard the term “quantum entanglement” before. You may also have heard it referred to as “spooky action at a distance,” and understand that it somehow … Continue reading
Posted in History of science, Physics
20 Comments
The Southern Reach trilogy, by Jeff VanderMeer
I’m not entirely sure why it took me three years to read Jeff VanderMeer’s Southern Reach trilogy. One of his earlier novels, Finch, is on a very short list of “best books I’ve ever read.” I suspect that I simply … Continue reading
Posted in Horror, Science fiction, Weird fiction
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Skulls in the Stars 