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https://www.sciencealert.com/the-world-is-going-to-lose-the-leap-second-heres-why>
'Scientists and government representatives meeting at a conference in France
voted on Friday to scrap leap seconds by 2035, the organization responsible for
global timekeeping said.
Similar to leap years, leap seconds have been periodically added to clocks over
the last half century to make up for the difference between exact atomic time
and the Earth's slower rotation.
While leap seconds pass by unnoticed for most people, they can cause problems
for a range of systems that require an exact, uninterrupted flow of time, such
as satellite navigation, software, telecommunication, trade, and even space
travel.
It has caused a headache for the International Bureau of Weights and Measures
(BIPM), which is responsible for Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) – the
internationally agreed standard by which the world sets its clocks.
A resolution to stop adding leap seconds by 2035 was passed by the BIPM's 59
member states and other parties at the General Conference on Weights and
Measures, which is held roughly every four years at the Versailles Palace west
of Paris.
The head of BIPM's time department, Patrizia Tavella, told AFP that the
"historic decision" would allow "a continuous flow of seconds without the
discontinuities currently caused by irregular leap seconds".
"The change will be effective by or before 2035," she said via email.'
Via Rixty Dixet.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
