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Earth's Day: A 23-Hour Mystery Unveiled!

5/6/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Earth's day may seem like a neat 24 hours, but in reality, it spins on its axis in just 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4 seconds. Over the eons, this rotation has stretched from a swift 18 hours and 41 minutes, thanks to the moon drifting away, adding a tiny fraction of a second each year.

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Story summary

Earth's day may seem like a neat 24 hours, but in reality, it spins on its axis in just 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4 seconds. Over the eons, this rotation has stretched from a swift 18 hours and 41 minutes, thanks to the moon drifting away, adding a tiny fraction of a second each year.