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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. -
Category Archives: General science
The Giant’s Shoulders #39 is out! (Part one!)
Part one of The Giant’s Shoulders #39 history of science blog carnival, which was delayed for a few days, is up at the blog Mammoth Tales!* Thanks to John McKay for posting and hosting, despite having some serious work to … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Science news
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The universe ripped me off!
Yesterday, Dr. Matthew Francis (of the very interesting and worth-checking-out physics blog Galileo’s Pendulum) pointed me to NASA’s astronomy picture of the day, Arp 272, which consists of two colliding galaxies (center and upper right) with a third likely interacting … Continue reading
Posted in ... the Hell?, General science, Silliness
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Ancient swords, modern nanotechnology
Though science and technology in the modern era have accomplished things that our ancestors couldn’t even dream of, it is still worth remembering that the ancients weren’t dummies. Through a combination of ingenuity, observation, determination, and probably a lot of … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Physics
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August 27, 1883: The island of Krakatoa blows up
Today, August 27th, marks the grim anniversary of one of the most devastating volcanic eruptions in recorded history: the final explosion of the island of Krakatoa in 1883. The eruption — and the tsunami that was generated by it — … Continue reading
Posted in General science
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The Giant’s Shoulders #38: A Georgian Special, is posted!
The 38th edition of The Giant’s Shoulders history of science blog carnival is up at the Board of Longitude project blog! It is a Georgian special, with featured posts that take a look at science in the Georgian era (1714-1830). Thanks to Rebekah Higgitt … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Science news
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6 days until the deadline for The Giant’s Shoulders #38!
There are only 6 days left until the deadline for The Giant’s Shoulders #38, to be hosted by The Board of Longitude Blog! This will be a “Georgian Special Edition”, with an emphasis on posts related to 18th century science — … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Science news
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The Giant’s Shoulders #37 is out! (The Wunderkammer Edition)
The Giant’s Shoulders #37 is up at Providentia, and is a veritable cabinet of curiosities! Many thanks to Romeo Vitelli for putting together an excellent edition of the carnival! The next edition will appear on the Longitude Blog on August 16th. Entries are … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Science news
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8 days until the deadline for The Giant’s Shoulders #37!
This is the regular monthly reminder that there’s only 8 days left until the deadline for the 37th edition of The Giant’s Shoulders, the history of science blog carnival! If you’ve got a history of science post you’ve been thinking about … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Science news
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My day as a shark biologist!
(Alternate title: The old physicist and the sea) One of the wonderful things about being active in science communication is that you get to meet very interesting people who are involved in a variety of fascinating research activities. If you … Continue reading
Posted in Animals, General science
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The Giant’s Shoulders #36 is out: The ABC’s of the history of science!
The 36th edition of The Giant’s Shoulders is up at The Dispersal of Darwin! For this 3rd anniversary of the carnival, Darwin’s Bulldog has assembled a nice collection categorized by topic and by letter! Go check it out — lots of … Continue reading
Posted in General science
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