China starts televising the sunset on giant TV screens because Beijing is so clouded in smog citizens can't tell when it's daybreak.
Beijing has a pollution problem - actually, that's an understatement. Pollution in China is so bad that the sun disappeared. The density of harmful particles in the air rose to 500 micrograms per cubic meter on Thursday. Levels above 300 are considered hazardous, with the World Health Organization recommending a daily level of no more than 20.
Such high levels of pollution are having profound effects on health and the environment. Shockingly, these include the total disappearance of the sun. While far-away stars disappear in the light pollution of the Los Angeles, those living in Beijing can’t even see our own sun through all the smog. Apparently this is so common that in response, the government has had to install large LED screens that show images of the rising sun for those who miss it. Is that insane, or what?
This is only a temporary solution, with Beijing's mayor promising to cut coal use by 2.6 million tons and setting aside $2.6 billion to improve air quality. Wang Anshun also aims to ban heavily polluting cars and promote cleaner forms of energy. Whether or not he can live up to his promises or even undo the damage already caused remain in doubt.
Source: Daily Mail