{
  "id": 12768565,
  "title": "Zeitmessung: Der Schaltsekunde steht das Aus bevor",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/zeitmessung-der-schaltsekunde-steht-das-aus-bevor",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-08T02:00:42.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/technik/forschung-innovation/zeitmessung-der-schaltsekunde-steht-das-aus-bevor/100260579.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "In an effort to maintain our clocks in alignment with astronomical time, leap seconds have been periodically inserted. However, this practice is set to end as the General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) aims to eliminate the need for these additional seconds to ensure greater stability. The final confirmation is expected on October 15 at the French Palace of Versailles. The issue at hand is why a leap second is needed in the first place. The world's timekeeping relies on two separate foundations: coordinated universal time (UTC), based on atomic clocks, and astronomical time (UT1, Universal Time), determined by Earth's rotation. While atomic clocks provide constant time, the Earth's rotational speed fluctuates slightly, causing the two timescales to diverge. To keep the two aligned, UTC and UT1 have been allowed to differ by no more than 0.9 seconds since their implementation in 1972 - a maximum of 27 times in total. The last leap second was added at the end of June or December 2016, inserting an extra minute with 61 seconds instead of the usual 60. The main question now is whether a leap second should be subtracted instead of added. Over long periods, Earth's rotation is slowed down by tidal forces from the moon and sun, but has slightly sped up in recent years. Experts fear that for the first time, a second may need to be removed to realign UTC and UT1. While the industry fears significant technical preparations and additional costs, the CGPM believes the probability of needing a minus leap second in the coming years is increasing. Therefore, the plan is to abolish the leap second altogether, allowing UTC to deviate up to 3,600 seconds (one hour) from astronomical time. This change would gradually increase the difference between clock time and the sun's position in the sky, but the impact on daily life would remain minimal for a long time. Currently, legal time is not always perfectly aligned with local solar time due to time zones, geographic location, and daylight saving time. The new rule would primarily affect those working with astronomical time, such as astronomers and specialists in Earth's surface measurement.",
  "summary": "Schaltsekunden gleichen Unterschiede zwischen der unregelmäßigen Erdrotation und unseren präzisen Atomuhren aus. 27 Mal wurde bisher eine eingefügt, zuletzt 2016 - es dürfte die letzte gewesen sein.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}