Scientists have observed a subtle yet significant acceleration in Earth’s rotation, causing days to become marginally shorter. While the change is measured in milliseconds, experts warn it could lead to major adjustments in global timekeeping — including the unprecedented removal of a leap second from atomic clocks by the end of this decade.
New Delhi, July 4, 2025 – Earth’s rotation is accelerating, leading to slightly shorter days, and scientists now warn that a “negative leap second” may soon be needed to keep atomic time in sync with the planet’s actual rotation.
According to a new study published in Nature Geoscience, since around 2020, Earth has been spinning marginally faster than usual, shortening the length of each day by microseconds. While imperceptible to humans, these subtle changes could disrupt global timekeeping systems used in GPS satellites, financial markets, and communication networks.
Why earth’s Rotation Matters?
Global systems — including GPS satellites, telecommunications, internet infrastructure, and financial markets — rely on a precise alignment between atomic time (UTC) and Earth’s natural rotation. Even a fraction of a second of discrepancy can cause navigation errors, financial transaction mismatches, and satellite misalignments.
“We are nearing a point where we may need to subtract a second from UTC for the first time, This would mark a major milestone in timekeeping history.” said Dr. Leonid Zotov, geophysicist at Lomonosov Moscow State University.
What Is a Leap Second?
Since 1972, scientists have occasionally added a leap second to account for Earth’s slightly irregular rotation. This ensures UTC remains in sync with astronomical time. To date, 27 leap seconds have been added — the most recent in 2016.
A negative leap second, however, would involve removing one second from official time — something that’s never been done before.mains under investigation, scientists stress that the trend — although small — is real and persistent.
Global Impact on Technology and Timekeeping
Modern digital systems, from stock exchanges to navigation satellites, rely on hyper-accurate atomic clocks. A mismatch between atomic time and Earth time, even by a second, could have widespread implications if not addressed.
Tech firms, telecom giants, and space agencies have expressed concern. Timekeeping errors can:
- Throw off GPS accuracy by several meters
- Cause timestamp mismatches in stock markets
- Disrupt data centers and blockchain systems
- Interfere with astronomical observations and space navigation
“We are entering an era where even a single second could disrupt critical infrastructure,” said Marc Abrahams, a researcher with the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS).
What Happens Next?
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) will decide whether to adopt a negative leap second, likely after global consultations with scientists and national timekeeping authorities.
The last leap second was added in 2016, and no changes have occurred since. If the proposed subtraction goes through, it would be a historic milestone in how humanity measures time.
“If this trend continues, we’ll likely have to remove a second for the first time ever,” said Dr. Leonid Zotov, geophysicist at Lomonosov Moscow State University. “It’s a direct result of subtle geophysical changes occurring beneath the Earth’s surface.”
What’s Causing the Speed-Up?
Researchers attribute the acceleration to several possible factors:
- Melting of polar ice caps due to climate change, which redistributes Earth’s mass
- Tectonic activity and core-mantle interactions
- Shifts in ocean currents
- Post-glacial rebound — Earth’s crust adjusting after past glaciation
These changes affect Earth’s moment of inertia, subtly influencing how fast it spins.
Quick Facts:
- Earth’s day is now 0.2 milliseconds shorter.
- Leap seconds are used to sync atomic clocks with Earth’s rotation.
- 27 leap seconds added since 1972 — none ever removed.
- First negative leap second may occur by 2029.
- Change could impact GPS, finance, satellites, and internet systems.
Also Read: https://visionsnaps.com/top-9-countries-with-the-most-nuclear-weapons-2025/
Sources & References:
- Nature Geoscience (2023–2024)
- Zotov, L., Bizouard, C., & Sidorenkov, N. “Anomalous Earth rotation and leap second prediction”
- https://www.nature.com/ngeo/
- Time and Date (2024) – “Why Earth’s Days Are Getting Shorter”
- International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS)
- Official leap second announcements and monitoring
- https://www.iers.org/IERS/EN/Home/home_node.html
- National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
- Leap second background and UTC standards
- https://www.nist.gov/pml/time-and-frequency-division/leap-seconds-faqs
- BBC News (2023) – “Earth is spinning faster — and it could lead to a time correction”
- Scientific American (2022) – “Why Earth’s Rotation Is Speeding Up”
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