-
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
Michael Talbot’s The Bog
A novel about an archaeologist digging up 2000 year-old bog bodies in the UK that have been mauled by some mysterious ancient creature? A supernatural creature that is awakened by the excavations and begins to stalk and kill again? Yes, … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Horror
Leave a comment
1975: The year that quantum mechanics met gravity
Since the revolutionary development of both theories in the early twentieth century, it is fair to say that general relativity and quantum mechanics have had a rather hostile relationship to one another. One reason for this is simple a matter of … Continue reading
Posted in History of science, Physics
5 Comments
Mary SanGiovanni’s “Chaos” and “Thrall”
My first encounter with the work of Mary SanGiovanni was her dark and elegant chapbook No Songs for the Stars, and it left me intrigued and interested in reading more. Fortunately, I had a short vacation to Mexico a few … Continue reading
Posted in Horror
Leave a comment
RIP Goldie, 2002(?)-2015
This morning, at about 8:45, our beloved cat Goldie passed away. Only the day before, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor that was affecting her movement and cognitive functions, and she had deteriorated rapidly over the course of the … Continue reading
Posted in Animals, Personal
3 Comments
The GOP war on higher education: a running tally (updated)
My apologies that I continue to go on about Republican attacks on higher education, but it really has become clear now that this is a major goal of 2015 for the GOP: weaken and/or destroy public universities as much as possible. … Continue reading
Posted in ... the Hell?, Politics
2 Comments
An open letter to NC State Senator Tom McInnis
Dear Senator McInnis, I recently read with some concern, first in The Daily Tarheel and then on Slate, about your proposed Senate bill 593, ironically titled “An act to improve the quality of instruction at the constituent 3 institutions of the University of North Carolina.” This … Continue reading
Posted in ... the Hell?, Politics
2 Comments
A one-act play about a study in hiring practices in STEM
Scene: A table at Starbucks Cast: Man #1, a wealthy benefactor Man #2, an enlightened guy Man #1: Let me ask you a hypothetical question: given the choice, would you rather have world peace or a billion dollars? Man #2: Oh, … Continue reading
Posted in ... the Hell?, General science, Women in science
1 Comment
One more anecdote about Kathleen Lonsdale
My last post hardly scratched the surface of Kathleen Lonsdale’s amazing life & career. Before moving on to other topics, I can’t help but share one more cool story about her from her biographical memoir, which incidentally is free to read … Continue reading
Posted in History of science, Women in science
Leave a comment
Kathleen Lonsdale: Master of Crystallography
In recent years, there has been a wonderful explosion of interest in the often-neglected historical women of science, and more information is available than ever before about the lives and achievements of these women. Nevertheless, there are still some truly … Continue reading
Posted in History of science, Women in science
1 Comment
My favorite “classic” horror stories
Even though I blog about horror fiction of all eras, regular readers of this blog know that I particularly love older stuff. There’s something about the ghost and horror stories of the late 1800s and early 1900s that is particularly … Continue reading
Posted in Horror
2 Comments
Skulls in the Stars 