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Earth Slowing Down, Leap Year, Leap Second

Missed the Train?

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 By Dr. Klaus L.E. Kaiser  Sunday, January 22, 2012

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.

Author
Dr. Klaus L.E. Kaiser  Bio

Dr. Klaus L.E. Kaiser Most recent columns

Dr. Klaus L.E. Kaiser is author of CONVENIENT MYTHS, the green revolution – perceptions, politics, and facts
convenientmyths.com

Dr. Kaiser can be reached at: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)