Missed the Train?

By Dr. Klaus L.E. Kaiser —— Bio and Archives January 22, 2012

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By a second? Don’t worry – nature is coming to your rescue. The World is slowing down to accommodate you. First of all, 2012, being a leap year, you’ll have another day to get ready. But the real question is whether or not this year will be longer by a “leap second” as well.

What’s the Problem? You can blame the Moon, and the Sun. Both exert gravitational forces upon Earth which make it deform, slightly, on every turn. But that requires energy, which is taken from the rotational momentum of the old globe. And, after a while (commonly, a few years), it has lost enough momentum that time needs to be adjusted, by lengthening the year by a second. The Battle de Jour Right now, hundreds of scientists debate the problem at a conference in Geneva. Of course, it is a grave problem to address. Time may get out of kilter if not dealt with correctly. And, you may miss the train again. Stay Tuned And enjoy the season.