Melting polar ice may be slowing Earth’s spin and messing with how we measure time

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Euronews or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: A study suggests the world may experience its first "negative leap second" around 2029 due to the Earth rotating faster, an effect partly offset by climate change
• Without global warming, this adjustment might have occurred in 2026

🔭 The context: Earth's rotation has sped up because of its hot liquid core's dynamics and the melting of polar ice due to human-driven climate change, which has slightly slowed this acceleration
• Timekeeping experts find themselves navigating uncharted territory, as the potential need for a negative leap second emerges.

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: This development highlights the intricate ways in which climate change impacts our world, extending even to the realm of global timekeeping
• The slowing effect of melting ice on Earth's rotation serves as another stark reminder of our changing planet

⏭️ What's next: The discussion on implementing a negative leap second underscores broader challenges in global timekeeping amidst technological advancements and environmental changes 
• The decision will impact various sectors, including technology and astronomy

💬 One quote: "This is an unprecedented situation and a big deal," said Duncan Agnew, study lead author and geophysicist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography

📈 One stat: Between 1972 and 2016, 27 leap seconds were added to account for Earth's slowing rotation, but now we face the possibility of subtracting time.

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