Scientists vote to abolish leap seconds from world clocks
Delegates from 69 countries approved ending the occasional added second, with a change possibly thousands of years away. Officials had added 27 leap seconds since 1972.
By Standard Topic. AI-generated from the reporting listed under Coverage. Published . Updated .
This story is no longer being updated. It reflects reporting up to .
What happened
Delegates from 69 countries voted to stop adding leap seconds to the universal clock, which has been adjusted since 1972. Under the decision, the practice will be replaced by a leap hour. The switch may not take effect for thousands of years.
Why it matters
Timekeepers add leap seconds occasionally to keep clocks in step with the Earth's rotation, so the decision could change timekeeping permanently.
Timeline
- Oct 15, 12:16 PM ET: Delegates from 69 countries approved a clock changeover that replaces the leap second with a leap hour.
- Oct 16, 9:59 AM ET: At a meeting in France that week, scientists decided to abandon the leap second practice, after officials had added 27 since 1972.
Coverage
- Scientists have just voted to abolish leap seconds (newscientist.com)
- Time’s up for the leap second as scientists swap it for the leap hour (The Guardian)
- Clock ticking for leap second: Why timekeeping could change forever (Al Jazeera)
More from Science
- Citrini Research designs 211 proteins with Claude AI
- Researchers find two methods to break down PFAS chemicals
- International team measures early Universe helium with record precision
- British Academy launches report on universities' research funding future
- Researchers find previously unknown chicken immune cell population
- Daily blueberries linked to fewer depression symptoms in small study