Earth is spinning faster and is about to see one of its shortest days ever
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.