Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 02:49pm on 09 Jul 2025,Wednesday Science
The Earth’s rotation unexpectedly sped up on July 9, 2025, making it the shortest day measured since atomic timekeeping began in 1960—approximately 1.3 to 1.6 milliseconds shorter than the standard 24 hours . Scientists attribute this slight acceleration to the Moon’s gravitational interaction when it’s furthest from Earth’s equator, a pattern repeating on July 22 and August 5 . While imperceptible in daily life, the shift challenges timekeeping systems such as GPS and telecommunications and may prompt a rare “negative leap second”—removing time—to synchronize atomic clocks . The phenomenon offers insight into Earth’s geophysical dynamics without posing risks. (PC: NDTV)
