Surprising News: Earth’s Rotation to Speed Up This July and August—What It Means for Us!

Earth’s rotation is set to speed up this July and August, which is a surprising shift from the trend of slowing down over time. While scientists have some theories, the exact reasons for this uptick in rotation are still unclear.

Historically, Earth has rotated much faster. Millions of years ago, during the late Ordovician period, it spun around 420 times a year—far quicker than today’s 365 days. Researchers found this out by examining ancient coral fossils. Corals grow in distinct patterns, and by counting their calcium deposits, scientists can track how many days were in a year back then. This quick rotation slowed down over time, primarily due to the Moon’s gravitational pull, which is gradually drawing away from Earth at about 1.8 milliseconds per century.

Recent studies using atomic clocks have shown that since 2020, rather than getting slower, the Earth’s days have been getting shorter. In fact, 2020 recorded the 28 shortest days since the 1960s, with 2024 recently setting a record with a day just 1.66 milliseconds shorter than usual.

In July and August 2023, scientists predict shorter days again. For example, July 9 is expected to be 1.30 milliseconds shorter. The International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS) and the U.S. Naval Observatory are keeping track. The days’ length changes are partly due to the Moon being at the farthest point from Earth’s equator, which can create drag that affects rotation.

Interestingly, our understanding of leap seconds has also changed. Since 1972, 27 leap seconds have been added to adjust for the slowing rotation, but since 2016, no extra seconds have been needed, coming as a surprise to many scientists. Judah Levine, a physicist at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, remarked that this lack of additional leap seconds was unexpected, as many believed the Earth would continue to slow down.

Leonid Zotov, an expert at Moscow State University, echoed this sentiment, noting, “Nobody expected this. The cause of this acceleration is not explained. Most scientists believe it is something inside the Earth.”

Other factors can affect Earth’s rotation too, such as major earthquakes. For instance, the 2011 Japan earthquake shifted the Earth’s axis and even sped up its rotation. Similar effects were observed during the massive 2004 Indonesian earthquake. These geological events can change how Earth’s mass is distributed and, like a spinning ice skater pulling in their arms to spin faster, adjustments in mass can change rotation speed.

The IERS will keep monitoring these changes, and we can look forward to learning more about the upcoming shorter days in July and August. Science is always evolving, and each new twist in our planet’s rotation keeps us intrigued.

For more in-depth information on Earth’s rotation and tracking, you can check out resources from the [International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service](https://www.timeanddate.com/news/astronomy/earth-fast-rotation-2025).

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