In still another example of nature's perversity, a recent study by the National Center for Atmospheric Research suggests that the country's success in cleaning the air could contribute to global warming. As the atmosphere becomes cleaner its ability to filter out sunlight diminishes, creating increased warming. A number of computer forecasts suggest cleaner air will add one degree to global warming estimates over the next 100 years. In a possible answer to the problem of vitamin A deficiency in developing countries, Swiss researchers have developed a genetically-modified rice. Lack of vitamin A causes blindness and other childhood illness.
Research continues to determine whether nutritional value of the rice is affected.
Run For the Hills Under the newly instituted Flood Mitigation and Riverine Restoration Program, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will study environmental solutions to deal with flooding. Costs of the program would be split, with participating communities. Recent efforts to restore the island to a pristine condition involved eliminating 3,000 sheep from its eastern tip. The move is to promote native plant restoration. The weed was previously kept under control by the sheep.