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Why Earth’s Rotation Speed is Changing

2025-07-17 Science & Technology
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StarTalk
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Go to https://ground.news/startalk to stay fully informed on the latest Space and Science news. Save 40% off through our link for unlimited access to the Vantage plan this month. Why is the Earth spinning faster? Neil deGrasse Tyson explains what’s up with Earth’s rotational velocity and how different factors can add or subtract leap seconds to our year. Is climate change affecting Earth’s spin? Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction: What Up With Earth Spinning Faster? 00:12 - Standardizing Time & Adding Leap Seconds 2:47 - Earth Speeding Up 3:26 - What Effects Earth’s Rotation? Tides 4:50 - Earthquakes 6:09 - Melting Polar Ice 7:17 - Clickbait Titles & Our Spinning Planet Check out our second channel, @StarTalkPlus Get the NEW StarTalk book, 'To Infinity and Beyond: A Journey of Cosmic Discovery' on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3PL0NFn Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/startalkradio FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE to StarTalk: Twitter: http://twitter.com/startalkradio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StarTalk Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startalk About StarTalk: Science meets pop culture on StarTalk! Astrophysicist & Hayden Planetarium director Neil deGrasse Tyson, his comic co-hosts, guest celebrities & scientists discuss astronomy, physics, and everything else about life in the universe. Keep Looking Up! #StarTalk #NeildeGrasseTyson

Top Comments (10)

@danr1920 2025-07-17

When I worked nights, I asked my supervisor if we got paid for the extra second, He shook his head and said get back to work. I got back and took an extra second at break,

1.2k 54 replies
@StarTalk 2025-07-17

If Earth keeps spinning faster, what do you think we’d notice first—shorter days, messed-up clocks, or just more weird vibes? (does anyone here want shorter days/weeks?)

407 146 replies
@hussnainali_official3700 2025-07-19

Friday comes in like a snap! Days are feeling like hours & hours like minutes. There is just not enough time for anything these days

405 23 replies
@Ieshatheartist 2025-07-21

I love that there is no panic or fearmongering in this space. It's so appreciated.

193 7 replies
@PaulMedina-l5q 2025-07-21

The earth is definitely shifting. When my grandfather walked to school he would walk uphill both ways. When I was in school I only had to walk uphill one way.

179 15 replies
@Regiom-vp8ju 2025-07-26

It definitely only spins faster on the weekends!

136 5 replies
@stunimbus1543 2025-07-17

3:18 My cat seems to know if its breakfast is late by fractions of a second.

116 8 replies
@golpogathastudio 2025-07-18

The public will not notice the deletion of a second in daily activities, but it’s a milestone for the science of timekeeping and our understanding of planetary dynamics.

103 2 replies
@LiveLifeLucratively 2025-07-27

I told this to my gf 2 days ago. I said it feels like the days are flying off the calendar. Time has seem to sped up over the past few years. Days and nights go by so quickly.

58 4 replies
@RandoCalrissian67 2025-07-27

The world has been spinning out of control so this makes sense actually.

24 1 replies

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