- Earth's rotation has recently accelerated, making some summer days fractionally shorter by milliseconds.
- This phenomenon, though unnoticeable in daily life, significantly impacts high-precision timekeeping systems like atomic clocks and GPS.
- Scientists at the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service suggest the acceleration is due to a subtle shift in the Moon's orbital alignment, reducing “tidal braking”.
- However, other experts, such as Moscow State University astronomer Leonid Zotov, state the cause remains unexplained, possibly originating from within the Earth.
- The International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service is considering implementing a “negative leap second” for the first time, potentially around 2029, to resynchronize global time.
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