AP Spotlight A faster spinning Earth may force timekeepers to subtract a second from world clocks SETH BORENSTEIN Associated Press Mar 30, 2024 Mar 30, 2024 Updated Dec 27, 2024 0 Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Earth’s changing spin is threatening to toy with our sense of time, clocks and computerized society in an unprecedented way — but only for a second.kAmu@C E96 7:CDE E:>6 :? 9:DE@CJ[ H@C=5 E:>6<66A6CD >2J 92G6 E@ 4@?D:56C DF3EC24E:?8 2 D64@?5 7C@> @FC 4=@4<D :? 2 76H J62CD 3642FD6 E96 A=2?6E :D C@E2E:?8 2 E25 72DE6C E92? :E FD65 E@] r=@4<D >2J 92G6 E@ D<:A 2 D64@?5 — 42==65 2 “?682E:G6 =62A D64@?5” — 2C@F?5 a_ah[ 2 ?6H DEF5J :? E96 ;@FC?2= }2EFC6 D2:5]k^AmkAm“%9:D :D 2? F?AC64656?E65 D:EF2E:@? 2?5 2 3:8 562=[” D2:5 DEF5J =625 2FE9@C sF?42? p8?6H[ 2 86@A9JD:4:DE 2E E96 $4C:AAD x?DE:EFE:@? @7 ~462?@8C2A9J 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 r2=:7@C?:2[ $2? s:68@] “xE’D ?@E 2 9F86 492?86 :? E96 t2CE9’D C@E2E:@? E92E’D 8@:?8 E@ =625 E@ D@>6 42E2DEC@A96 @C 2?JE9:?8[ 3FE :E :D D@>6E9:?8 ?@E23=6] xE’D J6E 2?@E96C :?5:42E:@? E92E H6’C6 :? 2 G6CJ F?FDF2= E:>6]”k^Am People are also reading… Lawsuit against state trooper on behalf of Franklin County girl moves forward 12-year-old arrested in death of classmate who was hit in the head by a metal water bottle Rocky Mount man charged with killing his brother Franklin County sheriff's deputies often make immigration arrests for ICE Franklin County considers 7-cent real estate tax increase Smith Mountain Lake saw increase in boating incidents and deaths in 2025 Board approves carp comeback at Smith Mountain Lake to eat invasive hydrilla Smith Mountain Lake State Park lecture series wraps up on Sunday Martinsville council moves toward releasing forensic audit after months of secrecy Lake Days gets students up close to nature at Smith Mountain Lake 2 Franklin County softball players among those to watch in Southwest Virginia Budget woes complicate residents' push for new dog park in Franklin County Cyanobacteria up in Smith Mountain Lake, but no harmful algal blooms last year Kids invited to annual Cops and Bobbers event by Rocky Mount PD Trump's White House ballroom gets final approval after judge's ruling halting construction kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^2?E2C4E:42\>6=E:?8\:46\D96=G6\4=:>2E6\492?86\`63fdd6ch44aah3_c5ch_bdef2d`3e74Qmx46 >6=E:?8k^2m 2E 3@E9 @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^:46\D966E\8C66?=2?5\2?E2C4E:42\>6=E\4=:>2E6\chc_d2chhh3`27d6bhecfg`77fa34dh2Qmt2CE9’D A@=6Dk^2m 92D 366? 4@F?E6C24E:?8 E96 A=2?6EVD 3FCDE @7 DA665 2?5 :D =:<6=J E@ 92G6 56=2J65 E9:D 8=@32= D64@?5 @7 C64<@?:?8 3J 23@FE E9C66 J62CD[ p8?6H D2:5]k^AmkAm“(6 2C6 962565 E@H2C5 2 ?682E:G6 =62A D64@?5[Q D2:5 s6??:D |4r2CE9J[ C6E:C65 5:C64E@C @7 E:>6 7@C E96 &]$] }2G2= ~3D6CG2E@CJ H9@ H2D?’E A2CE @7 E96 DEF5J C6=62D65 (65?6D52J] QxE’D 2 >2EE6C @7 H96?]”k^Am kAmxE’D 2 4@>A=:42E65 D:EF2E:@? E92E :?G@=G6D[ A9JD:4D[ 8=@32= A@H6C A@=:E:4D[ 4=:>2E6 492?86[ E649?@=@8J 2?5 EH@ EJA6D @7 E:>6]k^Am kAmt2CE9 E2<6D 23@FE ac 9@FCD E@ C@E2E6[ 3FE E96 <6J H@C5 :D 23@FE]k^AmkAmu@C E9@FD2?5D @7 J62CD[ E96 t2CE9 92D 366? 86?6C2==J D=@H:?8 5@H?[ H:E9 E96 C2E6 G2CJ:?8 7C@> E:>6 E@ E:>6[ D2:5 p8?6H 2?5 yF529 {6G:?6[ 2 A9JD:4:DE 7@C E96 E:>6 2?5 7C6BF6?4J 5:G:D:@? @7 E96 }2E:@?2= x?DE:EFE6 @7 $E2?52C5D 2?5 %649?@=@8J]k^Am kAm%96 D=@H:?8 :D >@DE=J 42FD65 3J E96 67764E @7 E:56D[ H9:49 2C6 42FD65 3J E96 AF== @7 E96 >@@?[ |4r2CE9J D2:5]k^AmkAm%9:D 5:5?’E >2EE6C F?E:= k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?:DE]8@G^A>=^E:>6\2?5\7C6BF6?4J\5:G:D:@?^E:>6\D6CG:46D^3C:67\9:DE@CJ\2E@>:4\4=@4<D\?:DEQm2E@>:4 4=@4<D H6C6 25@AE65k^2m 2D E96 @77:4:2= E:>6 DE2?52C5 >@C6 E92? dd J62CD 28@] %9@D6 5:5?’E D=@H]k^Am kAm%92E 6DE23=:D965 EH@ G6CD:@?D @7 E:>6 — 2DEC@?@>:42= 2?5 2E@>:4 — 2?5 E96J 5:5?VE >2E49] pDEC@?@>:42= E:>6 76== 369:?5 2E@>:4 E:>6 3J a]d >:==:D64@?5D 6G6CJ 52J] %92E >62?E E96 2E@>:4 4=@4< H@F=5 D2J :E’D >:5?:89E 2?5 E@ t2CE9 :E H2D >:5?:89E 2 7C24E:@? @7 2 D64@?5 =2E6C[ p8?6H D2:5]k^Am kAm%9@D6 52:=J 7C24E:@?D @7 D64@?5D 25565 FA E@ H9@=6 D64@?5D 6G6CJ 76H J62CD] $E2CE:?8 :? `hfa[ :?E6C?2E:@?2= E:>6<66A6CD 564:565 E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^fh`3_g_bb4dgch`e2a6`5d67dg`62a3aQm255 2 “=62A D64@?5”k^2m :? yF?6 @C s646>36C 7@C 2DEC@?@>:42= E:>6 E@ 42E49 FA E@ E96 2E@>:4 E:>6[ 42==65 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?94]?@22]8@G^23@FEFE4]D9E>=Qmr@@C5:?2E65 &?:G6CD2= %:>6k^2m @C &%r] x?DE625 @7 ``idh 2?5 dh D64@?5D EFC?:?8 E@ >:5?:89E[ E96C6 H@F=5 36 2?@E96C D64@?5 2E ``idh 2?5 e_ D64@?5D] p ?682E:G6 =62A D64@?5 H@F=5 8@ 7C@> ``idh 2?5 dg D64@?5D 5:C64E=J E@ >:5?:89E[ D<:AA:?8 ``idhidh]k^Am kAmq6EH66? `hfa 2?5 a_`e[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?:DE]8@G^A>=^E:>6\2?5\7C6BF6?4J\5:G:D:@?^E:>6\C62=:K2E:@?^=62A\D64@?5DQmaf D6A2C2E6 =62A D64@?5Dk^2m H6C6 25565 2D t2CE9 D=@H65] qFE E96 C2E6 @7 D=@H:?8 H2D E2A6C:?8 @77]k^Am kA 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\=:?<Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?6HD]=66]?6E^E?4>D^2DD6E^65:E@C:2=^b376f3`g\5da`\``66\g4c7\g7_gfeg``c57Qm%96 H9J 369:?5 =62A J62CDk^2mk^AmkAm“x? a_`e @C a_`f @C >2J36 a_`g[ E96 D=@H5@H? C2E6 925 D=@H65 5@H? E@ E96 A@:?E E92E E96 t2CE9 H2D 24EF2==J DA665:?8 FA[” {6G:?6 D2:5]k^AmkAmt2CE9’D DA665:?8 FA 3642FD6 :ED 9@E =:BF:5 4@C6 — “2 =2C86 32== @7 >@=E6? 7=F:5” — 24ED :? F?AC65:4E23=6 H2JD[ H:E9 655:6D 2?5 7=@HD E92E G2CJ[ p8?6H D2:5]k^Am kAmp8?6H D2:5 E96 4@C6 92D 366? EC:886C:?8 2 DA665FA 7@C 23@FE d_ J62CD[ 3FE C2A:5 >6=E:?8 @7 :46 2E E96 A@=6D D:?46 `hh_ >2D<65 E92E 67764E] |6=E:?8 :46 D9:7ED t2CE9’D >2DD 7C@> E96 A@=6D E@ E96 3F=8:?8 46?E6C[ H9:49 D=@HD E96 C@E2E:@? >F49 =:<6 2 DA:??:?8 :46 D<2E6C D=@HD H96? 6IE6?5:?8 E96:C 2C>D @FE E@ E96:C D:56D[ 96 D2:5]k^AmkAm(:E9@FE E96 67764E @7 >6=E:?8 :46[ t2CE9 H@F=5 ?665 E92E ?682E:G6 =62A D64@?5 :? a_ae :?DE625 @7 a_ah[ p8?6H 42=4F=2E65]k^AmkAmu@C 564256D[ 2DEC@?@>6CD 925 366? <66A:?8 F?:G6CD2= 2?5 2DEC@?@>:42= E:>6 E@86E96C H:E9 E9@D6 92?5J =:EE=6 =62A D64@?5D] qFE 4@>AFE6C DJDE6> @A6C2E@CD D2:5 E9@D6 255:E:@?D 2C6?’E 62DJ 7@C 2== E96 AC64:D6 E649?@=@8J E96 H@C=5 ?@H C6=:6D @?] x? a_`a[ D@>6 4@>AFE6C DJDE6>D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?E:2]8@G^3=@8^E:>6\6?5\=62A\D64@?5Qm>:D92?5=65 E96 =62A D64@?5k^2m[ 42FD:?8 AC@3=6>D 7@C #655:E[ {:?FI[ "2?E2D p:C=:?6D 2?5 @E96CD[ 6IA6CED D2:5]k^Am kAmQ(92E :D E96 ?665 7@C E9:D 25;FDE>6?E :? E:>6 H96? :E 42FD6D D@ >2?J AC@3=6>Dn” |4r2CE9J D2:5]k^AmkAmqFE #FDD:2’D D2E6==:E6 DJDE6> C6=:6D @? 2DEC@?@>:42= E:>6[ D@ 6=:>:?2E:?8 =62A D64@?5D H@F=5 42FD6 E96> AC@3=6>D[ p8?6H 2?5 |4r2CE9J D2:5] pDEC@?@>6CD 2?5 @E96CD H2?E65 E@ <66A E96 DJDE6> E92E H@F=5 255 2 =62A D64@?5 H96?6G6C E96 5:776C6?46 36EH66? 2E@>:4 2?5 2DEC@?@>:42= E:>6 ?62C65 2 D64@?5]k^AmkAmx? a_aa[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]3:A>]@C8^6?^48A>\a_aa^C6D@=FE:@?\cQmE96 H@C=5’D E:>6<66A6CD 564:565k^2m E92E DE2CE:?8 :? E96 a_b_D E96J’5 492?86 E96 DE2?52C5D 7@C :?D6CE:?8 @C 56=6E:?8 2 =62A D64@?5[ >2<:?8 :E >F49 =6DD =:<6=J]k^Am kAm%649 4@>A2?:6D DF49 2D v@@8=6 2?5 p>2K@? F?:=2E6C2==J :?DE:EFE65 E96:C @H? D@=FE:@?D E@ E96 =62A D64@?5 :DDF6 3J 8C25F2==J 255:?8 7C24E:@?D @7 2 D64@?5 @G6C 2 7F== 52J[ {6G:?6 D2:5]k^AmkAm“%96 7:89ED 2C6 D@ D6C:@FD 3642FD6 E96 DE2<6D 2C6 D@ D>2==[” {6G:?6 D2:5]k^AmkAm%96? 255 :? E96 “H6:C5” 67764E @7 DF3EC24E:?8[ ?@E 255:?8 2 =62A D64@?5[ p8?6H D2:5] xE’D =:<6=J E@ 36 E@F896C E@ D<:A 2 D64@?5 3642FD6 D@7EH2C6 AC@8C2>D 2C6 56D:8?65 E@ 255[ ?@E DF3EC24E E:>6[ |4r2CE9J D2:5]k^Am kAmqFE {6G:?6 5@6D?’E E9:?< 2 ?682E:G6 =62A D64@?5 H:== C62==J 36 ?66565] w6 D2:5 E96 @G6C2== D=@H:?8 EC6?5 7C@> E:56D 92D 366? 2C@F?5 7@C 46?EFC:6D 2?5 4@?E:?F6D[ 3FE E96 D9@CE6C EC6?5D :? t2CE9’D 4@C6 4@>6 2?5 8@]k^Am kAm“%9:D :D ?@E 2 AC@46DD H96C6 E96 A2DE :D 2 8@@5 AC65:4E:@? @7 E96 7FEFC6[” {6G:?6 D2:5] “p?J@?6 H9@ >2<6D 2 =@?8\E6C> AC65:4E:@? @? E96 7FEFC6 :D @? G6CJ[ G6CJ D92<J 8C@F?5]”k^Am 0 comments Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Lunar standard time? NASA aims to create new clock for the moon, where seconds tick away faster A new time system aims to put the moon on its own souped-up clock. But just where the new space time kicks in is something NASA has to figure out. Watch Now: Related Video A1 Minute! April 8, 2026: Automated tolls roads; Free Flying Squirrels tickets; Richmond Fashion Week A1 Minute! April 2, 2026: Hack for RVA civic hackathon; DuPont sells Kevlar and Nomex divisions; Virginia Tourism Corporation partners with Devils Backbone Brewing A1 Minute! April 2, 2026: Hack for RVA civic hackathon; DuPont sells Kevlar and Nomex divisions; Virginia Tourism Corporation partners with Devils Backbone Brewing A1 Minute April 1, 2026: Charlottesville's Fridays After Five season lineup A1 Minute April 1, 2026: Charlottesville's Fridays After Five season lineup A1 Minute! March 28, 2025: Week in Virginia | A1 Minute A1 Minute! March 28, 2025: Week in Virginia | A1 Minute
Lunar standard time? NASA aims to create new clock for the moon, where seconds tick away faster A new time system aims to put the moon on its own souped-up clock. But just where the new space time kicks in is something NASA has to figure out.
A1 Minute! April 8, 2026: Automated tolls roads; Free Flying Squirrels tickets; Richmond Fashion Week
A1 Minute! April 2, 2026: Hack for RVA civic hackathon; DuPont sells Kevlar and Nomex divisions; Virginia Tourism Corporation partners with Devils Backbone Brewing
A1 Minute! April 2, 2026: Hack for RVA civic hackathon; DuPont sells Kevlar and Nomex divisions; Virginia Tourism Corporation partners with Devils Backbone Brewing
