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Earth's Slowing Rotation May Change Timekeeping by 2029

1/11/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Earth's rotation is gradually slowing, influenced by the Moon's gravitational pull and climate change reshaping mass distribution from melting glaciers. This phenomenon has already extended our days by approximately 0.8 milliseconds, with projections suggesting a further increase of up to 2.62 milliseconds by 2100. As a result, we may need to adjust global timekeeping by subtracting a second as early as 2029.

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Story summary

Earth's rotation is gradually slowing, influenced by the Moon's gravitational pull and climate change reshaping mass distribution from melting glaciers. This phenomenon has already extended our days by approximately 0.8 milliseconds, with projections suggesting a further increase of up to 2.62 milliseconds by 2100. As a result, we may need to adjust global timekeeping by subtracting a second as early as 2029.