Earth's rotation is unexpectedly speeding up, resulting in shorter days in July and August. Atomic clocks show that July 9th, 22nd, and August 5th will be 1.30, 1.38, and 1.5 milliseconds shorter, respectively. While the Moon's influence contributes to Earth's long-term slowdown, the recent acceleration remains unexplained by scientists. Factors like internal Earth shifts and earthquakes might play a role, but the exact cause is still under investigation. This contrasts with the need for leap seconds in the past to account for the Earth's slowing rotation.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.