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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
A Brief History of Stephen Hawking!
In September of this year, the Perimeter Institute of Theoretical Physics in Waterloo, Canada opened their new Stephen Hawking Centre to provide more space for more researchers to investigate the foundations of physics. As part of their opening celebration, they … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Physics
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Weird science facts, November 23 — November 29
Another week of Twitter #weirdscifacts! It’s kind of hard to believe that I’ve been doing this for over 600 days straight. 620. Nov 23: Can’t beat this today: ‘Brinicle‘ ice finger of death filmed in Antarctic! Supercold brine descends, ever … Continue reading
Posted in Weirdscifacts
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No “Weird Fiction Monday” this week!
I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep up a story a week indefinitely, and this week real life finally caught up with me! I ended up having to prepare a talk and a lecture all day Sunday, and today … Continue reading
Posted in Fiction
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“On matter as a form of energy” (written in 1881)
It is unarguably the most famous scientific equation of all time: . This equation, developed in the early 1900s by Albert Einstein as a consequence of his special theory of relativity, implies that energy and mass are equivalent and interchangeable, … Continue reading
Posted in History of science, Physics
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Weird science facts, November 16 — November 22
Another week of Twitter #weirdscifacts!!! 613. Nov 16: In 1898, August Bier tested effectiveness of spinal anesthesia on assistant by beating crap out of him. I quote: “Bier stabbed, hammered and burned his assistant, pulled out his pubic hairs and … Continue reading
Posted in Weirdscifacts
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I’m a direct academic descendant of Galileo?
This is really neat — a friend and colleague of mine at the University of Toronto worked up the academic pedigree of our (mutual) graduate advisor Emil Wolf, using data from the Mathematics Genealogy Project. In short, Emil is a … Continue reading
Posted in ... the Hell?, Personal
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Weird Fiction Monday: The Invitation
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
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A curious 1880s account of ball lightning
The older scientific journals (pre-1900) are filled with many curious and strange eyewitness accounts. By the late 1800s, science had reached a level at which researchers felt confident enough to investigate a wide variety of unusual phenomena, but did not … Continue reading
Posted in History of science
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The Giant’s Shoulders #41 is out!
The 41st edition of The Giant’s Shoulders history of science blog carnival has been posted over at Early Modern Experimental Philosophy! It includes discussions of vampires, ghosts, and armies of ape-warriors (yes, this is still a history of science blog carnival!), … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Science news
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Weird science facts, November 9 — November 15
Another week’s Twitter #weirdscifacts are ready!!! I’ve included a “bonus” fact this week, since it was too weird to not tweet right away… 606. Nov 09: A foot-long cockroach-like creature with 50 legs ruled the sea floor 500 million years … Continue reading
Posted in Weirdscifacts
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Skulls in the Stars 