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The leap second, a method of adjusting timekeeping to account for Earth's rotation, is no longer considered a viable solution by scientists.

ScienceTimekeepingOct 16, 2026score 0.402 posts · 1 replies across 2 instances
The thread discusses the shift from leap seconds to leap hours due to Earth's accelerating rotation, highlighting scientific and timekeeping changes. It emphasizes the consensus among experts and the long-term implications of this shift.

Claims

The leap second, a method of adjusting timekeeping to account for Earth's rotation, is no longer considered a viable solution by scientists.
Parent: TimekeepingEntity: Leap SecondImpact: negativeDate: Oct 16, 2026 - Oct 17, 2026Target: Leap second
The leap hour, a proposed alternative to the leap second, is not expected to be implemented for thousands of years.
Parent: TimekeepingEntity: Leap HourImpact: neutralDate: Oct 16, 2026 - Oct 17, 2026Target: Leap hour

Source posts

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How an accelerating Earth led experts to adopt the leap hour International delegates agree leap second no longer tenable, but first leap hour not likely to happen for thousands of years https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/oct/15/times-up-for-the-leap-second-as-scientists-swap-it-for-the-leap-hour
0 boosts · 2 favs · 1 replies · Oct 16, 2026
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How an accelerating Earth led experts to adopt the leap hour | Science | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/science/2026/oct/15/times-up-for-the-leap-second-as-scientists-swap-it-for-the-leap-hour
0 boosts · 0 favs · 0 replies · Oct 17, 2026