Scientists have been left baffled after discovering the Earth is spinning faster than normal — making days shorter than usual. New measurements by the UK’s National Physical Laboratory show that the Earth is spinning faster than it was half a century ago. On June 29, the Earth’s full rotation took 1.59 milliseconds less than 24 hours — the shortest day ever recorded. Some experts believe the melting and refreezing of ice caps on the world’s tallest mountains could be contributing to the irregular speed. Scientists have warned that, if the rotation rate continues to speed up, we may need to remove a second from our atomic clocks. “If Earth’s fast rotation continues, it could lead to the introduction of the first-ever negative leap second,” astrophysicist Graham Jones reported via TimeandDate.com. “A negative leap second would mean that our clocks skip one second, which could potentially create problems for IT systems.” Researchers at Meta said a leap second would have colossal effects on technology and become a “major source of pain” for hardware infrastructures. “The impact of a negative leap second has never been tested on a large scale; it could have a devastating effect on the software relying on timers or schedulers,” a blog post on the topic, authored by researchers Oleg Obleukhov and Ahmad Byagowi, claimed Scientists baffled as Earth spins faster than usual Mother Earth is trying to shake us off like fleas. I don't blame her.
Interesting stuff. Over the long term the Earth's rotation will always be slowing due to tidal friction from the moon. To see short term increases in rotational speed is kind of wild.
The laws of physics seemingly does not allow for objects to speed up unless a force acts on them… what force could increase the rotational speed of earth? I’m wondering if it’s somehow related to the extreme heat lately… like more evaporation, a quick reduction of ocean water causing tidal shift…
I'm also curious as to the data over time. Where are the other data points/over what interval is this tested? Fascinating stuff.
I think the force increasing the speed is the hot air that's been coming from Donald Trump's mouth for the last few years.
Think of how a figure skater spins on ice (think Tara Lipinski). They start with arms spread wide, then pull their arms in to gain rotational speed. Snow/ice melting off of tall mountains has a similar effect of pulling mass closer to the center.
Let’s not get carried away boys! 1.59 milliseconds out of 24 hours is an extraordinarily small change and we have very little perspective on this as measurements this precise have not been possible very long. This could very well be within a normal historical range. It needs to be studied and not politicized (I’m not putting any money on that). There are 86,400,000 milliseconds in 24 hours. A variation of 1.59 has to be within a normal fluctuation range.
What a dumb response, so typical of you… The article says this caused the shortest days in earth’s recorded history, at a time when days have been increasingly longer, so to pass this off as within the normal range seems incredibly ignorant. Also, The first law of dynamics, an object will not change its motion unless a force acts on it. Maybe you need to take your own advice and learn something before you respond.
As I get older I feel time was speeding up. Days seem shorter, years go by quicker. Glad my assumptions are validated now.
Dude, don’t talk to me about physics. You obviously have no idea. The force that creates rotation is magnetic. The forces that resist are multiple. All forces vary, the only real question is the capability to measure. Lowest in recorded history? Just how long have we had the capability to make precise measurements like this? Hint: That is not a long history. But go ahead and make a fool of yourself in front of people who know what they are talking about to make your libbie friends think your cool. You’ve been doing it so long, why stop now?
I'm pretty sure it was caused by my neighbors fireworks display on the 4th of July. Especially those whistlin' bungholes, spleen splitters, whisker biscuits, honkey lighters, hoosker doos and hoosker don'ts.
LOL, you are clueless. Science thinks the magnetic field is created by earth's rotation ... not "The force that creates rotation is magnetic." What a face plant for someone trying to act smart on internet. But don't worry, your con friends won't call you out when you say dumb shit like that to them and get your facts ass backwards ... They don't believe in science anyway so I'm sure you can fool them. I'm honestly surprised you didn't tell me the earth sped up by a little tap from Jesus's finger, like spinning a basket ball, because that seems to be about your level of understanding.
Actually, you're both half-right. Rotation is required, but only in the Earth's core. This is why the "North" and "Magnetic North" poles are in two different spots). The core is molten and does not behave like a simple N-S magnet, but as numerous changing magnets. This is why the magnetic field strengthens and weakens, could conceivably add up to "zero" or why the magnetic poles reverse (as they have many times and are in the process of doing again in the VERY near future). Look at the Sun as a model here. The poles reverse every 11 years or so. Bottom line, the Earth itself could stop spinning entirely but as long as there is a molten ferrous-based core, there will be a magnetic field generated.
