Skip to content
Independent reporting on the stories that matter, updated around the clock. Get Started
Browse Extension
Theme:
Thursday, October 22, 2026 Set Location International Edition
Subscribe Login
Science

Time’s up for the leap second as scientists swap it for the leap hour

October 15, 2026 Guardian Science 1 min read
Guardian Science · Leans Left
Time’s up for the leap second as scientists swap it for the leap hour

Delegates from 69 countries approve clock changeover after decades of debate – but switch may not take effect for thousands of years

After decades of discussion, quibbling and worrying about clocks in computer systems, the world’s official timekeepers have voted to replace what many viewed as a tiresome correction: the leap second. It’s time, they say, for the leap hour.

Delegates from 69 countries cast their votes on Thursday at a conference in France of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures, which ensures the world sticks to the same standards of time, weight, distance and more.

Continue reading…

Source: Guardian Science

Read the full story at the original publisher Guardian Science →

More on this topic

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *