Planetary phenomenon: Earth breaks time records with rare rotational acceleration

22.07.2025 | Curious from around the world

The scientific community is alarmed by an unprecedented phenomenon - the second shortest day in history, recorded on July 22, 2025, which poses serious challenges to global time systems.

Снимка от NASA/NOAA/GSFC/Suomi NPP/VIIRS/Norman Kuring, Wikimedia Commons (обществено достояние)

Astronomical observations reveal an exceptional geophysical process in which our planet demonstrates anomalous behavior regarding its own rotation. On July 22, 2025, Earth completed its full rotation a few milliseconds faster than the standard 24 hours, placing it as the second shortest day in documented scientific history.

The complex factors provoking this remarkable phenomenon include intricate interactions between various planetary systems. Experts point out that dynamic changes in atmospheric pressure, ocean currents, internal geological movements, and structural changes in the Earth's core are the primary causes of this unique phenomenon.

Although superficially insignificant, these microscopic time deviations possess the potential to cause serious disruptions in precise technological systems. GPS navigation, communication networks, and scientific calculations are among the most sensitive to such astronomical anomalies.

Traditional scientific models traditionally expected a gradual slowdown of planetary rotation, but recent years demonstrate unexpected short-term periods of acceleration. Leading geophysicists warn of the possible need to introduce corrective mechanisms, including removing part of a time second, to maintain synchronization between astronomical and official time.