We’re used to thinking of a day as 24 hours. But what if that started to change — even just by a fraction? Well, that’s exactly what’s happening.
Earth is spinning faster than usual, and while we won’t feel the difference right away, scientists are sounding the alarm about what this could mean in the long run.
This Tuesday, we’re expected to experience one of the shortest days ever recorded.
The Fast Spin Behind the Short Day
The upcoming record-short day is thanks to a slight acceleration in Earth’s rotation — by just 1.25 milliseconds.
That might not sound like much, and to the average person, it really isn’t. But to scientists, it’s a red flag.
This subtle shift is being driven largely by the gravitational pull of the moon and other natural influences, such as ocean currents and melting glaciers.
These forces are nudging Earth’s rotation faster — and that speed-up has some potentially massive consequences.
Sea Levels Could Shift in the Wrong Direction
If this trend continues and Earth’s spin keeps picking up pace, one of the first big changes would be in how ocean water behaves.
A faster rotation means more centrifugal force, which pushes water outward from the poles toward the equator.
Even a small bump in speed — just 1 mile per hour — could raise sea levels around the equator by several inches.
That’s enough to flood low-lying coastal cities that are already battling rising waters.
In more extreme cases, if Earth spun 100 mph faster, large swaths of equatorial land could disappear under the ocean.
Life as We Know It Would Get Tougher
Beyond the threat of rising water, there’s also the issue of how Earth’s rhythm keeps human biology in check.
If the solar day were to shrink from 24 to 22 hours, our natural circadian rhythms would be thrown out of sync.
And that’s not a small deal — even minor shifts like daylight saving time have been linked to increased risks of heart attacks, strokes, and traffic accidents.
A two-hour-permanent change could have serious health effects worldwide.
Weather Could Go Wild Too
Dr. Sten Odenwald, a NASA astronomer, warns that a faster-spinning Earth could make storms even more intense.
That’s because the Coriolis effect, which helps create and steer hurricanes, becomes stronger the faster the planet spins.
So, not only would we be dealing with flooding and internal clock chaos, but also stronger, more dangerous storms.
Scientists Are Tracking Every Millisecond
To keep tabs on all these tiny changes, scientists use ultra-precise atomic clocks.
These clocks track time based on the vibrations of atoms in a vacuum — far more accurate than your average wristwatch.
This data forms the basis of Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), the official global time standard.
Earth’s rotation has been a bit unpredictable in recent years.
For instance, July 5, 2024, holds the current record for the shortest day, coming in 1.66 milliseconds faster than the normal 86,400 seconds that make up 24 hours.
So What’s Causing the Acceleration?
The truth is, scientists don’t know for sure. Astrophysicist Graham Jones from the University of London is studying various possible causes — from shifting molten layers in Earth’s core to jet stream winds and changes in ocean currents.
There’s also evidence that events like El Niño, melting polar ice, and even massive earthquakes could contribute to these shifts.
It’s a big puzzle, and Earth keeps tossing in new pieces.
A Growing Pattern of “Short Days”
This isn’t a one-off event either. Earth has had a growing number of shortened days in recent years.
Back in 2020, July 19 was 1.47 milliseconds shorter than average. By June 2022, another day came in 1.59 milliseconds short.
Now, we’re headed for another record. And if the acceleration continues, this could be just the beginning of a much more dramatic planetary change.
