-
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. -
-
-
-
-
-
-
Category Archives: General science
Twitter Weird Science Facts, Volume 4
Time for another summary of Twitter #weirdscifacts! Click below the fold to see how similar Steve Buscemi’s character in “Con Air” is to a particular species of caterpillar.
Posted in General science, Weirdscifacts
Leave a comment
Twitter Weird Science Facts, Volume 3
Here’s the latest summary of Twitter #weirdscifacts! Click through below the photo of Hedy Lamarr to learn about her contributions to science and technology, among many other surprising science and nature related facts.
Posted in General science, Weirdscifacts
Leave a comment
Coming soon! Science Blogging: The Essential Guide
Have you ever wanted to start a blog to write about science, but don’t know how to get started, or how to build an audience for your blog, or just how to survive the rough-and-tumble nastiness that the internet can often … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Personal
Leave a comment
Twitter Weird Science Facts, Volume 2
Continuing to post a #weirdscifacts a day on Twitter; here’s the latest summary since my last posting! 16. (January 16). Project A119, when the US almost nuked the Moon to boost domestic morale. The Cold War was a really scary time, … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Weirdscifacts
1 Comment
The return of the “Weird science facts!”
Those who have been around this blog for a while will remember that I did a two year nonstop marathon of “weird science facts” (hashtag #weirdscifacts), with at least one fact a day. It got pretty darn hard to keep it up … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Weirdscifacts
1 Comment
“Science Chamber of Horrors” talk at the Schiele Museum
On October 29, 2015, I was invited to present a Science Cafe at the Schiele Museum in Gastonia, NC, based on my “Science Chamber of Horrors” Tumblr! I think it went well and I appreciated the invitation to speak there. … Continue reading
Posted in General science, History of science, Horror, Personal
1 Comment
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
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
Kitchen Science Lab for Kids, by Liz Heinecke
Though I spent a lot of time thinking about how to properly explain science in a way that is comprehensible to non-scientists, my biggest Achilles heel is my lack of experience in explaining things at a level that kids can … Continue reading
Posted in General science
Leave a comment
How anti-vaccination is like a nuclear bomb
Update: tweaked the descriptions of nuclear physics to be a little more specific. I’m not sure that anything fills me with despair more than the trend of parents refusing to vaccinate their children. A couple of weeks ago, an article … Continue reading
Posted in ... the Hell?, General science, Health
14 Comments
Skulls in the Stars 