Author Archives: skullsinthestars

Weird science facts, January 18 — January 24

Posted on January 25, 2012 by skullsinthestars

Been a quiet week on the blog, thanks to my participating in Science Online 2012, which was one of the most fun and interesting events ever!!! We’re back with Twitter #weirdscifacts, however, and this week includes a number of facts … Continue reading →

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Weird science facts, January 11 — January 17

Posted on January 19, 2012 by skullsinthestars

Still going strong on Twitter #weirdscifacts! This will likely be the last significant post of the week, due to my attending ScienceOnline 2012! (I posted my facts one day late this week, in solidarity with those in opposition to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Weirdscifacts | 2 Comments

The Giant’s Shoulders #43 is out — People, places & things!

Posted on January 17, 2012 by skullsinthestars

The 43rd edition of the history of science blog carnival The Giant’s Shoulders is out today over at The Dispersal of Darwin! Go there to read about the people, places and things of the history of science, including: Victorian poet scientists Legends … Continue reading →

Posted in General science, Science news | 2 Comments

François Arago: the most interesting physicist in the world!

Posted on January 16, 2012 by skullsinthestars

When he was seven years old, he tried to stab a Spanish solider with a lance When he was eighteen, he talked a friend out of assassinating Napoleon He once angered an archbishop so much that the holy man punched … Continue reading →

Posted in ... the Hell?, History of science | 20 Comments

Weird science facts, January 4 — January 10

Posted on January 11, 2012 by skullsinthestars

Time again for another week’s roundup of Twitter #weirdscifacts! This week we reached the dubious milestone of fact #666! To celebrate, we provide a bonus fact, and two of the facts this week are my own posts on WEIIIIIIRD OPTIIIIIIICS!!! … Continue reading →

Posted in Weirdscifacts | 1 Comment

Weird Fiction Monday: Convergence

Posted on January 9, 2012 by skullsinthestars

It’s time for Weird Fiction Monday, when I post stories that I’ve written — both new and old — for the entertainment (hopefully) of my readers! As always, I note that I haven’t done extensive editing of the tales here, … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction | 10 Comments

So, what is a “temporal cloak”, anyway?

Posted on January 7, 2012 by skullsinthestars

I’ve been saying for a few years that optical science has entered a truly remarkable new era: instead of asking the question, “What are the physical limitations on what light can do?”, we are now asking, “How can we make … Continue reading →

Posted in Invisibility, Optics | 6 Comments

Weird science facts, December 28 — January 3

Posted on January 4, 2012 by skullsinthestars

Happy New Year! A new year, another week of new Twitter #weirdscifacts! 655. Dec 28: Beware the “ball-cutter fish“! What’s the worst interpretation of the term “ball-cutter fish” you can imagine? Yep, that’s what it is! (via @kzelnio & @deepseanews) … Continue reading →

Posted in Weirdscifacts | 2 Comments

A camera fast enough to watch light move?

Posted on January 4, 2012 by skullsinthestars

A few weeks ago, a new optical imaging system grabbed headlines throughout the world. This system, labeled a “picosecond camera”, can seemingly record images so fast that it can actually track the motion of light itself! Consider the following video … Continue reading →

Posted in Optics | 6 Comments