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salt on mars: Scientists using a Mars-orbiting camera, designed at Arizona State University's Mars Space Flight Facility, have discovered the first evidence for deposits of salt in numerous places on the planet Mars. These deposits, they say, show where water was once abundant. A team of scientists led by Mikki Osterloo of the University of Hawaii found about 200 places in the Martian southern hemisphere that show spectral characteristics consistent with that of chloride minerals. Scientists say these salt deposits occur in the middle to low latitudes all around the planet within ancient, heavily cratered terrain.

The team's report appears in the March 21, 2008 issue of the journal Science.

healthy, intelligent kids: A study in the Journal of School Health reveals that children with healthy diets perform better in school than children with unhealthy diets. Researchers of the University of Alberta surveyed 5,000 Canadian fifth grade students and recorded information regarding their dietary intake, height and weight. Less healthful dietary components included saturated fat and salt, while fruits, vegetables, grains, dietary fibre, protein, calcium and moderate fat intake were deemed healthy. Students with increased fruit and vegetable intake are significantly less likely to fail literacy assessments. "We demonstrated that beyond socioeconomic factors; diet quality is important to academic performance,' the authors said.

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