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Negative leap second likely in 2029 due to Earth's changes

CNN — March 27, 2024, 05:00 PM UTC

Summary: A study predicts a negative leap second will be needed for the first time due to Earth's rotation speeding up, influenced by melting polar ice from global warming. The date has been pushed from 2026 to 2029. The Earth's core also plays a role. This change impacts global timekeeping and could pose challenges for computing systems. The study highlights the significant impact of human-induced changes on the planet.

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Article metrics
Significance5.9
Scale9.0
Magnitude7.5
Potential8.0
Novelty8.5
Actionability6.0
Immediacy7.0
Positivity2.0
Credibility8.0

Timeline:

  1. [3.1]
    Global warming may cause a "negative leap second." (The Cool Down)
    35d
    Source
  2. [3.8]
    Earth's rotation slowing, leap second deletion delayed by climate change (PINKVILLA)
    38d
    Source
  3. [2.1]
    Potential need for negative leap second in 2029 debated (Mint)
    40d
    Source
  4. [5.0]
    Earth's rotation accelerates from melting ice caps, affecting timekeeping (Inquirer.net)
    40d

    ScoresSource
  5. [6.1]
    Global warming affects Earth's rotation, delaying leap second subtraction (Times Now)
    40d

    ScoresSource
  6. [5.7]
    Melting glaciers from climate change affect Earth's rotation, timekeeping (The Indian Express)
    41d

    ScoresSource
  7. [5.7]
    Global warming affects Earth's timekeeping, requiring UTC adjustments (Sambad English)
    41d

    ScoresSource
  8. [3.2]
    Possible "negative leap second" in 2029 due to Earth's faster rotation (KAGSTV.com)
    42d
    Source
  9. [3.0]
    Possible leap second in 2029 due to Earth's rotation (Nation Thailand)
    44d
    Source
  10. [4.6]
    Global warming may delay negative leap second until 2029 (RTE.ie)
    45d
    Source
  11. [6.5]
    Climate change may delay need for negative leap second (The Straits Times)
    45d

    ScoresSource
  12. [4.0]
    Melting polar ice affects Earth's rotation, timekeeping worldwide (PINKVILLA)
    45d
    Source
  13. [3.1]
    Earth's rotation speeding up, may need "negative leap second." (Wings)
    45d
    Source
  14. [5.5]
    Melting ice caps delay leap second, prompting timekeeping changes (ABC News)
    46d

    ScoresSource
  15. [4.2]
    Earth's rotation speeding up, may need negative leap second (News18)
    46d
    Source
  16. [4.9]
    Melting polar ice may require a "negative leap second." (The Washington Post)
    46d
    Source
  17. [4.5]
    Earth's rotation speeding up, possible negative leap second in 2029 (The Associated Press)
    46d
    Source
  18. [5.1]
    Earth's rotation speeding up, may need "negative leap second." (The Globe and Mail)
    46d

    ScoresSource