The Earth is Spinning Faster, After All

Does it seem the Earth is spinning faster than normal? You’re right.

The Earth is spinning faster than it has in the last 50 years — what’s causing it, and why is it a problem? Image credit: The Cosmic Companion / Earth image by NASA / Clock from Pixabay

The Earth is spinning faster than it has at any time in the last 50 years, careful study of our planet reveals. Each of the 28 shortest days ever measured came in 2020.

It is possible this may require shortening the standard time on which much of our technological systems are based.

“The Earth is spinning faster now than at any time in the last 50 years. It’s quite possible that a negative leap second will be needed if the Earth’s rotation rate increases further, but it’s too early to say if this is likely to happen,” Peter Whibberley of the National Physical Laboratory said.

Does Anyone Have the Time?

The FOCS-1 atomic clock in Switzerland, seen here, is one of the most accurate timekeeping devices in the world, accurate to one second every 30 million years. Public domain image.

Atomic clocks make it possible to measure the length of a day with unprecedented accuracy. Since their development in the 1960’s, researchers have understood that the rotational rate of the Earth changes over time. Due to these variations, leap seconds have been added 28 times over the last 48 years.

However, or the first time ever, scientists are now talking about the possible need for a negative…