It appears time is literally racing ahead as scientists reveal Earth is expected to have three of its shortest days in recent history this summer, thanks to an unexpected acceleration in its rotation.
Typically, a full rotation takes about 86,400 seconds , a precise 24 hours. But according to Popular Mechanics and the New York Post, three days, July 9, July 22, and August 5, will be around 1.51 milliseconds shorter than usual. These dates have been flagged by the International Rotation and Reference Systems Service as some of the briefest since 2020.
Experts attribute these anomalies to the moon reaching its farthest distance from the equator, subtly affecting Earth’s spin rate. Intriguingly, the shortest day since 2020 already occurred on July 5, 2024, clocking in 1.66 milliseconds below the average.
However, scientists remain puzzled by the broader trend of acceleration. “Nobody expected this,” commented Leonid Zotov of Moscow State University, adding that existing oceanic and atmospheric models can’t fully explain the phenomenon.
This continued speeding up could force global timekeepers to introduce an unprecedented “negative leap second” by 2029 to keep clocks aligned with Earth’s faster rotation, according to a Nature study led by geophysicist Duncan Agnew.
“This is an unprecedented situation,” Agnew noted. “It won’t lead to catastrophe, but it is significant.”
Historically, Earth’s days weren’t always 24 hours; during the Bronze Age, days lasted roughly 23 hours. Yet the current, unexplained acceleration presents a fresh mystery that continues to intrigue scientists worldwide.
