Leap Second Dropped as Earth’s Rotation Speeds up
WHO:
The Verge - Experts and scientists involved in timekeeping and Earth sciences.
WHAT:
Wired Science - The elimination of the leap second has been a contentious issue in the timekeeping community for years, leading to its eventual discontinuation.
CNET - The decision to eliminate the leap second may help prevent time-related computer anomalies in the future.
The Verge - The leap second, a practice used to adjust atomic time to Earth's rotation, has been dropped.
The Guardian - The decision to drop the leap second is due to the accelerating rotation of the Earth.
WHERE:
The Guardian - The decision affects global timekeeping standards used by various organizations worldwide.
WHEN:
The Verge - The leap second will no longer be added starting in 2026.
WHY:
The Guardian - The Earth's rotation is speeding up, leading to the need for adjustments in timekeeping practices.
HOW:
The Verge - The decision was made by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) during a conference.
(UPDATED October 16, 2026 22:02 UTC)
The leap second, a topic of debate in the timekeeping community for years, has officially been eliminated. This decision marks a significant change in how we measure time. The discontinuation of the leap second is expected to have wide-ranging implications for various fields that rely on precise timekeeping.
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(UPDATED October 16, 2026 18:00 UTC)
In a significant move, experts have decided to eliminate the leap second, a change that could help prevent time-related computer anomalies in the future. This decision was reported by CNET and is expected to have wide-ranging implications for technology and computing. By removing this extra second, the aim is to create a more stable and reliable timekeeping system.
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(UPDATED October 16, 2026 17:04 UTC)
Experts and scientists involved in timekeeping and Earth sciences have announced that the leap second, a practice used to adjust atomic time to align with Earth's rotation, will no longer be added starting in 2026. This decision, made by the International Telecommunication Union during a conference, is a response to the accelerating rotation of the Earth, which has made such adjustments unnecessary. The change will impact global timekeeping standards used by various organizations around the world.