New Year comes a ‘second’ later

British physicists and official timekeepers around the world will insert an extra second or “leap second” into the new year countdown to bring the most accurate atomic clocks in line with the astronomical day.

As if this year didn’t feel long enough, the world’s timekeepers have made it longer. They’re adding one extra second to 2008, so that official clocks are in sync with the planet’s rotation.

big ben
big ben

Clocks have become so accurate that it has emerged that the Earth’s rotation can take slightly longer or shorter than 24 hours.

That’s why the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS) occasionally adds a “leap second” to the world’s timescale to keep internationally defined time and the Earth’s rhythms in synch. As a result, thousands of organisations across the world will be adjusting their clocks from midnight.

There have been 23 leap seconds introduced since 1972.

Many countries want to scrap the leap second, arguing that the process of adding leap seconds to clocks and computer systems is expensive and time consuming.

Over time, if clocks weren’t reset, future generations would face early morning sunsets — upturning barbecues and golf games. And they would cheer the New Year’s Eve ball dropping in the bright sunshine.

Source : BBC, Mercury News

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