No more leap second after 2035? Scientists vote on a resolution to end the ‘disturbing’ procedure | Sciences

Since the Earth’s rotation speed is unstable, a leap second or second is added to the normal course of time after a while. After all, there are two systems that determine time: the Earth’s rotation and atomic clocks. On average, this adds milliseconds per century. In 2016, for example, another leap second was added to the time at the turn of the year.

It is an action that we hardly notice. However, such leap seconds have some (technical) drawbacks. For example, reorganizing all atomic clocks costs a lot of time and money. In addition, there is a risk of errors in sensitive computer systems associated with atomic clocks. In 2012, for example, there was a crash in which Linux and Java actually came to a halt. GPS systems also often suffer from leap seconds.

For this reason, a resolution was voted on by the members of BIPM to abolish leap seconds from the year 2035. According to Patricia Tavella, President of BIPM, it is “a landmark decision that ensures that seconds are added to time when necessary without the irregularities that are currently causing leap seconds”. However, the difference between the hour and the solar day continues to increase, and with the passage of time, it still needs to be adjusted. Otherwise, in about 4,000 years, the sun will be at its zenith around 11 a.m. instead of 12 p.m.

How will the time be adjusted? Scientists have long suggested waiting a little longer before adding time. For example, leap seconds may be saved until a “leap minute,” so that we suddenly receive the “gift” of an entire minute in the distant future.