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The leap second’s time is up: world votes to stop pausing clocks

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Summary

The article discusses the decision by the world's foremost metrology body to put the practice of adding 'leap seconds' to official clocks on hold from 2035. Leap seconds are added whenever the two time systems (astronomical time and coordinated universal time) drift apart by more than 0.9 seconds, in order to keep them in sync. However, the practice can cause disruptions in the digital age, and so the decision has been made to stop adding them. This may cause problems for astronomers who rely on astronomical time to align their telescopes, but the current situation is unsustainable and the change is necessary. There is a chance that the International Telecommunications Union could stymie the plans, but ultimately the difference between the two time systems is not significant enough to warrant keeping the leap seconds.

Q&As

What is the world's foremost metrology body?
The General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) is the world's foremost metrology body.

What is the decision of the world's foremost metrology body?
The decision of the world's foremost metrology body is to put the practice of adding 'leap seconds' to official clocks on hold from 2035.

When will the decision of the world's foremost metrology body be put into effect?
The decision of the world's foremost metrology body will be put into effect from 2035, or possibly earlier.

What are the consequences of the world's foremost metrology body's decision?
The consequences of the world's foremost metrology body's decision are that astronomical time (known as UT1) will be allowed to diverge by more than one second from coordinated universal time (UTC), which is based on the steady tick of atomic clocks.

What is the reaction of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to the decision of the world's foremost metrology body?
The reaction of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to the decision of the world's foremost metrology body is that the ITU could stymie plans to make the switch in 2035.

AI Comments

👍 This is a great step forward for researchers who work with time and frequency. This will make their jobs much easier and will allow for more precise measurements.

👎 This is a terrible decision that will cause havoc for many people and businesses. Leap seconds are essential for keeping time accurate, and without them, we will all be constantly guessing what time it really is.

AI Discussion

Me: It's about the world's decision to stop adding leap seconds to clocks.

Friend: Why would they do that?

Me: Well, it disrupts systems based on precise timekeeping and can cause havoc in the digital age. Plus, it's not predictable because it depends on Earth's natural rotation.

Friend: I see. What are the implications of this decision?

Me: Well, it means that from 2035, or possibly earlier, astronomical time will be allowed to diverge by more than one second from coordinated universal time. So, there could be an ambiguity between time sources of up to half a second.

Friend: That doesn't sound good.

Me: Yeah, it's not ideal. But, in the long term, this might be a better solution than continuing to add leap seconds.

Action items

Learn more about the leap second and its impact on timekeeping.
Stay up to date on the latest developments from the International Bureau of Weights and Measures.
Understand how the change from leap seconds to no leap seconds will affect different industries and technologies.

Technical terms

Leap second: A leap second is a one-second adjustment that is occasionally applied to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) in order to keep its time of day close to the mean solar time, or UT1.
Coordinated Universal Time (UTC): Coordinated Universal Time is the primary time standard by which the world regulates clocks and time. It is within about 1 second of mean solar time at 0° longitude, and is not adjusted for daylight saving time.
Atomic clocks: Atomic clocks are the most accurate timekeepers known, and are used as the international time standard.
Metrology: Metrology is the science of measurement.
General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM): The General Conference on Weights and Measures is the supreme authority of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures, the intergovernmental organization that coordinates the worldwide metrology community.
International system of units (SI): The International System of Units is the modern form of the metric system, and is the most widely used system of measurement.
International Telecommunications Union (ITU): The International Telecommunications Union is a specialized agency of the United Nations that is responsible for information and communication technologies.