Scientists are warning that Earth’s rotation may soon shorten its day record by as much as 1.51 milliseconds on one of three upcoming dates this summer. The sudden acceleration in the planet’s spin has left researchers baffled and scrambling to understand the cause behind the change.
According to data from the US Naval Observatory, Earth’s rotation has been speeding up since 2020, but the reason for this acceleration remains unknown. Researchers are exploring various natural factors that could be influencing the planet’s spin, including changes in the molten core, ocean currents, and atmospheric conditions.
The impact of this change on technology and timekeeping is significant. Global systems such as GPS, communication networks, and financial markets rely on precise time synchronization, which can be disrupted by even slight variations in the Earth’s rotation. If left unexplained, the accelerated spin could lead to unprecedented adjustments, including removing a second from the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) system.
Researchers are using atomic clocks to track these tiny fluctuations and gather more data. They hope that further research will uncover whether this is a temporary anomaly or if the planet’s rotation will continue to speed up in the coming years.
Source: https://dailygalaxy.com/2025/07/earths-shortest-day-in-history