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The Independent
6 days ago
- Science
- The Independent
Why are we about to have one of the shortest days ever?
The Earth is currently spinning at its fastest rate since records began, with 5 August predicted to be one of the shortest days ever measured. The shortest day on record occurred on 5 July 2024, measuring 1.66 milliseconds shorter than the average 24-hour rotation. While the Moon's gravity typically slows Earth's rotation, there is no conclusive reason for the current acceleration, though melting polar ice caps are a suggested factor. Scientists have proposed introducing a 'negative leap second' to compensate for the lost time, which would require adjusting all global clocks. This would be the first time a second has been subtracted, raising concerns among experts about potential unprecedented problems for current computing infrastructure.
The Independent
6 days ago
- Science
- The Independent
Earth is spinning faster and is about to see one of its shortest days ever
The Earth is spinning at its fastest rate since records began, and astronomers predict that 5 August will be one of the shortest days ever measured. New estimates released this month suggest that the first Tuesday of August will be around 1.25 milliseconds shorter than it should be. The average rotation of our planet is 24 hours, or 86,400 seconds, however there are several variables that cause Earth to spin faster or slower. The Moon's gravitational influence on Earth typically causes it to slow time over time and for days to lengthen. There is no conclusive reason for why Earth's rotation is accelerating, though a 2024 study suggested that melting polar ice caps and rising sea levels could be influencing it. The shortest day ever recorded was on 5 July, 2024, measuring 1.66 milliseconds shorter, with recent years seeing the rotation speeding up. Scientists have proposed a negative leap second to compensate for the lost time, meaning all of the world's clocks will need to be adjusted. 'This is an unprecedented situation and a big deal,' said geophysicist Duncan Agnew from the University of California, who wrote about the issue in a paper published in the journal Nature last year. 'It's not a huge change in the Earth's rotation that's going to lead to some catastrophe or anything, but it is something notable. It's yet another indication that we're in a very unusual time.' There have been 27 leap seconds added to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) since 1972, when the present form of the time standard was adopted, in order to match atomic time to astronomical time. This would be the first time that a second has been subtracted, and it is not clear how current computing infrastructure would cope with the shift. Patrizia Tavella from the Time Department at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures, wrote in an accompanying article to the Nature paper that any potential risks should be assessed before a negative leap second is applied. 'A negative leap second has never been added or tested,' she said, 'so the problems it could create are without precedent.'
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Today will be one of the shortest days in history. Here's why
The Earth will complete a full rotation at a faster rate than usual today, according to The planet's rotation will be approximately 1.34 milliseconds less than the usual 24 hours we are used to. Although you won't be able to feel the difference, the shortened day is part of a recent trend in the planet's rotation that scientists have not been able to pinpoint the cause of, according to The invention of the atomic clock in 1973 allowed scientists to begin recording the speed of the rotation of the Earth through exact atomic frequencies, as opposed to regular manufactured clocks which are prone to slight errors, according to the National Institute of Standards and Technology's website. From 1973 to 2020, the shortest day ever recorded was only 1.05 milliseconds shorter than 24 hours, reads. Since 2020, however, the Earth has repeatedly broken its own speed record since then, with the shortest day ever recorded being July 5, 2024 at 1.66 milliseconds shy of 24 hours. The shortest day in 2025 was July 10, at 1.36 milliseconds short of 24 hours. July 22 is expected to finish out the year as the second shortest day, according to If this trend continues, scientists may need to subtract a second from the atomic clock by 2029, reads. Although scientists haven't been able to determine the exact cause of the rotation, a 2024 study suggests melting polar ice caps and rising sea levels might be affecting Earth's spin. Another theory is that something in the Earth's core is influencing the Earth's rotation, according to More News Read the original article on MassLive.
