We earthlings can all look forward to many more sunny days ahead.
The earth's air is generally cleaner and letting in more sunlight, a new study finds. This is the first evidence that so-called 'global dimming' is being reversed. The phenomenon is caused by industrial pollution over five decades, screening out sunlight from reaching the ground.
What is even more surprising is that the study, led by Martin Wild, an atmospheric researcher with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, finds the mainland, long branded the bogeyman of third-world pollution, is actually enjoying more sunshine than a decade ago, despite a booming economy driven by industries that exploit fossil fuels.
Dr Wild, whose report is published in the current issue of the weekly Science, admits he has no idea why China seems to be following the first-world brightening trend, but speculates the country may be using more environment-friendly technologies than it has been given credit for.
And the collapse of Soviet-dominated economies has caused industries to adopt less polluting technologies.
Perhaps communism with Chinese characteristics is less polluting as well.
