Earth is Spinning Faster Than It Used To: Clocks Might Have to Skip a Second to Keep Up
In an unprecedented twist, the Earth’s rotation is accelerating, prompting scientists and timekeepers to consider an extraordinary measure: subtracting a second from our clocks. This so-called "negative leap second" might be required as early as 2029, according to a study published in the journal *Nature*. For centuries, Earth's rotation has been gradually slowing, largely due to tidal forces exerted by the moon. However, recent observations indicate a reversal in this trend, with our planet now spinning slightly faster. Duncan Agnew, a geophysicist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, describes this phenomenon as "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." The melting of polar ice caps has played a crucial role in delaying this adjustment by about three years. As the ice melts, it shifts Eart...
