New Delhi: Earth is expected to spin faster than the usual in the upcoming weeks, leading to the slightly shorter days, scientists reported, according to some sources, on July 9, July 22, and August 5, 2025, the position of the moon will be influence Earth’s rotation, making each day between 1.3 and 1.51 milliseconds shorter than the standard 24 hours.
Typically, a full day on Earth lasts about 86,400 seconds, or 24 hours. However, the Earth’s rotation is not constant; it is affected by several factors, including the gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun, the planet’s magnetic field, and shifts in Earth’s mass due to natural or human activity.
Earth’s rotation has been gradually slowing down. Approximately 1 to 2 billion years ago, a day lasted only 19 hours, primarily because the moon was much closer to the Earth and exerted a more substantial gravitational effect. Over time, as the moon moved away, our days got longer. Interestingly, in 2020, scientists recorded Earth spinning faster than at any point since the 1970s. The shortest day ever recorded occurred on December 21, 2023, which was 1.66 milliseconds shorter than usual.
The moon’s distance from Earth’s equator on certain days can accelerate the planet’s spin, similar to how a spinning top moves faster when its axis is tilted. Climate-related changes, such as the melting of ice and groundwater movement, have also contributed to shifts in Earth’s rotation. Even earthquakes and seasonal changes can slightly affect the length of our days.
Single events can also affect Earth’s spin. The 2011 earthquake that struck Japan shortened the length of the day by 1.8 microseconds. The rate of rotation of any moving body is affected by its distribution of mass. When an ice shaker spins on the spot, it rotates faster when its arms are tight to its chest and slows itself down by stretching its arms out. As Earth’s mass moves away from its core in summer, its rate of rotation must decrease, so the length of the day increases.
