In a surprising development, scientists have confirmed that Earth’s rotation is speeding up, resulting in slightly shorter days.
According to a study published by NASA on July 5, 2025, the planet’s rotational speed has increased marginally, shaving off milliseconds from the standard 24-hour day.
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This phenomenon, observed through precise atomic clock measurements, marks a reversal from decades of gradual slowing in Earth’s rotation.
Researchers attribute the acceleration to a combination of factors, including changes in the planet’s molten core, shifts in ocean currents, and the redistribution of mass due to melting polar ice caps driven by climate change.
Dr. Emily Chen, a geophysicist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, explained, “The Earth’s core is dynamic, and subtle changes in its motion can influence rotation speed. Coupled with atmospheric and oceanic shifts, we’re seeing an unexpected speedup.”
Data from the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS) indicates that the length of a day has shortened by approximately 1.2 milliseconds since 2020, with the trend accelerating in 2025.
The speedup has also eliminated the need for a “leap second” adjustment, a rare correction used to align atomic clocks with Earth’s rotation. In fact, scientists are now discussing the potential for a “negative leap second” in the coming years, a first in modern timekeeping.