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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: Science news
7 days until The Giant’s Shoulders #21!
There’s 7 days left until the deadline for The Giant’s Shoulders #21! It will be held at PACHSmörgåsbord, and entries can be submitted through blogcarnival.com or directly to the host blog, as usual! We still could REALLY use some more … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Science news
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ResearchBlogging editor’s selections: chimps with tools, moon-bases, shrinky dink science, and earthquake predictions
Uncovering the “Chimpanzee Stone Age”. First, from Brian at Laelaps we have a discussion of stone tool use in chimpanzees — and the archaeology of such tool use! Will the Moon mess up a moon-base? For all the talk of … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Science news
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ResearchBlogging Awards voting open!
I should remind folks that voting is now open for the ResearchBlogging Awards 2010! If you are a research blogger and have an account on ResearchBlogging.org, don’t forget to vote for your favorite research blogs in a variety of categories, … Continue reading
Posted in Personal, Science news
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ResearchBlogging editor’s selections: giving climate scientists their due, “revolting” statistics, and a crystal controversy
Dammit, Jim, I’m a neurobiologist, not a climatologist! It isn’t his field (as he freely admits), but Björn Brembs at bjoern.brembs.blog does an excellent job clearly explaining why we should give climate scientists some credit, even if we don’t understand … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Science news
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A little delay…
We seem to be having a little delay in the posting of The Giant’s Shoulders #20. I’m trying to figure out what’s up, and hopefully it’ll be published within the next day. In the meantime, this seems to be a … Continue reading
Posted in Science news
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Some thoughts on the recent tenure-related shooting
In the wake of the tragedy in Alabama, there has as expected been a lot of discussion on the internet about the nature of the shooting and its implications. In some sense, my impression is that the case has become … Continue reading
Posted in Politics, Science news
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ResearchBlogging editor’s selections: slime mold traffic planners, synthetic marijuana, and evolution vs. morality
Nature-inspired network design: recent studies in slime mold and leaf veins. You could learn a lot from a slime mold! Hannah W. in Culturing Science explains how researchers are seeking inspiration from slime mold and leaves in developing new techniques … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Science news
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Vrije Universiteit goes for Open Access publishing!
This is interesting news! Via BoraZ on Twitter, I find that the Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, has pledged to have 90% of its published articles available on Open Access: Within ten years, VU University Amsterdam wants to make 90% of its … Continue reading
Posted in Science news
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Earthquake hits Chicago area!
Man, I miss all the cool stuff that happens in Chicago! Via the Chicago Sun Times: A 3.8 magnitude earthquake rattled the western suburbs early this morning. There were no reports of damage after the 3:59 a.m. quake, centered about … Continue reading
Posted in Science news
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ResearchBlogging editor’s selections: demoting gravity, dinosaur colors, flexible water, and girls v. boys
The end of gravity as we know it? Sarah at SarahAskew explains a radical new theory of gravity that would displace it as a “fundamental” force of nature! Fossil feather colors really ARE written in stone. I’m linking to this … Continue reading
Posted in General science, Science news
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