Leap seconds face judgment day as time lords prepare to vote
Proposal would let UTC drift an hour from Earth's rotation, sparing computer systems awkward adjustments for centuries
Leap seconds, added since 1972 to synchronize Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) with Earth's rotation, may soon become obsolete. The General Conference on Weights and Measures is set to vote on a proposal that would allow a difference of up to one hour between UTC and Universal Time (UT1), the astronomical time scale. This would eliminate the need for leap-second adjustments for centuries, reducing the risks associated with implementing leap seconds in computer systems and other global networks.
However, the possibility of a negative leap second, which involves removing a second rather than adding one, has raised concerns about potential issues for systems designed to handle added seconds. The decision, if approved, is expected to take effect on May 20, 2027, ensuring the continuity of UTC for several centuries.
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