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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: Women in science
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
Jane Marcet educates Michael Faraday
This post is in honor of Ada Lovelace Day, a celebration of the contributions of women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). Even when women weren’t officially recognized as scientists or allowed to pursue a formal education or career in science, … Continue reading
Posted in History of science, Women in science
5 Comments
Mireya Mayor’s “Pink Boots and a Machete”
In my studies of historical figures, I’ve reserved a special spot in my heart for those people whose lived their lives, for lack of a better word, “awesomely”. My criterion for such “awesome” people is to imagine them arriving … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Women in science
6 Comments
Which scientist would you most want to have a beer with?
I’m currently away from home at a meeting, so blogging is necessarily light. I’ve been thinking lately, however, about various scientists and people of reason throughout history that I just flat out admire, and got to wondering which of them … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Women in science
14 Comments
Michelson and Margarite
My recent posts on Ada Lovelace Day (here and here) not only drove home the point that there were even more historically important women scientists and mathematicians than I had optimistically imagined, but that the smartest male scientists of their … Continue reading
Posted in History of science, Women in science
3 Comments
Some more women in science, and their appreciators
I thought, before this past week, that I appreciated quite well the important but often unacknowledged role that women have played in the history of science and mathematics. It turns out that I’ve hardly scratched the surface of their contributions, … Continue reading
Posted in History of science, Women in science
23 Comments
Women published in the Royal Society, 1890-1930
I’ve been struggling to think of a woman scientist to profile for Ada Lovelace Day! Ada Lovelace (1815-1852) was a brilliant woman mathematician and arguably the first computer programmer, designing a program for Charles Babbage’s (never constructed) Analytical Engine. Ada … Continue reading
Posted in General science, History of science, Women in science
12 Comments
Skulls in the Stars 