Monday Links: Mesoamerican Ball Games, Kids Liking Veggies, and Meditations on Space Travel

I found this site while doing research on the ball games played by the Aztecs, Mayans and other Mesoamerican civilizations. It seems to be someone's personal site, so I'm not sure I'd consider it the final authority on anything, but it gathers a fair amount of interesting material on the Aztecs in one place, as well as the ball game itself. I already noted in a tweet that the (vaguely understood) rules of the game resemble Quiddich from J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books. I smell a plot, but it might just be some interview I missed revealing the whole scheme.

On The Pump Handle at Scienceblogs, Kim Krisberg has an article on a study by the USDA on its Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. The study indicates that in schools that provide fresh produce outside of mealtimes, children eat more fruits and vegetables and report more of a taste for such foods. Their total calorie intake remains the same, but nonetheless it is a pleasant surprise.

Finally, Ethan Siegel meditates on how far we've come as a species, and the way forward in the millennia to come. It's a heartfelt and moving piece, and I recommend you read it.

Monday Links: Mannequins, Higgs, Meteors and Martian Water

A clothing store in Sweden now features mannequins which represent the curvier (and more common) spectrum of the female figure. The reception of their decision is overwhelmingly positive. While I must comment on how the picture in the article appears to obscure the largest of the three mannequins in its photograph, I do believe this news, in itself, is a positive development. Representing the full range of human form can only be a good thing. However, I doubt the underlying issue of idealizing the female figure will vanish until we stop giving a damn about whether a woman is attractive or not.

On the science front, researchers have confirmed that the particle discovered last July 4th is indeed the Higgs boson, or a version thereof. Since it is cagey and rare beast, many more experiments are necessary to determine which theoretical conception of the Higgs this particle matches, if any. However, the article notes that the mass of this Higgs—about 126 times the mass of the proton—is enough to indicate instability in our universe on the billions-of-years scale. They do not specify whether or not this means the Big Crunch is in vogue again.

A post on Magpie and Whiskeyjack features the art of meteorites throughout the ages. It is a lovely record of our fascination with the heavens and their behavior.

Finally, Curiosity's examination of rocks on Mars leaves scientists optimistic that its ancient environment was friendly to life, and thus may have been home to some life forms. Apparently, the evidence indicates that any water that would have existed on Mars billions of years ago would have been potable. Of course, fans of Doctor Who know this to be a trap.