[BLOG] Some Tuesday links

[rfmcdonald]

• Bad Astronomer Phil Plait notes how the recently-charted orbit of S2 around Sagittarius A* in the heart of our galaxy proves Einstein's theory of relativity right.


• D-Brief notes a recent NASA study of Mars concluding that, because of the planet's shortfalls in conceivably extractable carbon dioxide, terraforming Mars is impossible with current technology.


• Dead Things suggests that one key to the rise of Homo sapiens may be the fact that we are such good generalists, capable of adapting to different environments and challenges with speed even if we are not optimized for them. (Poor Neanderthals.)


• At the Everyday Sociology Blog, Karen Sternheimer examines how individuals' identities shift as they engage, encountering new problems.


• Hornet Stories notes that Thailand may well beat Taiwan in creating civil unions for same-sex couples.


• JSTOR Daily examines the famed, nay iconic, baobab tree of Africa.


• Erik Loomis at Lawyers, Guns and Money wonders about how, as the centennial of the introduction of women's suffrage approaches, the white racism of many suffragettes will be dealt with.


• The Map Room Blog reports on Michael Plichta's very impressed hand-crafted globe of the Moon.


• Russell Darnley at Maximos' Blog reports on the massive forest fires in Indonesia's Jambi Province.