http://www.timeanddate.com/time/leapseconds.html

Every now and then a leap second is added to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) in order to synchronize atomic clocks with the Earth's ever slowing rotation.

Atomic clocks are slightly too accurate.©iStockphoto.com/kvkirillovAtomic Time vs. Universal Time

Two components are used to determine Coordinated Universal Time (UTC):

International Atomic Time (TAI): A time scale that combines the output of some 200 highly precise atomic clocks worldwide, and provides the exact speed for our clocks to tick. (UT1), also known as Astronomical Time, refers to the Earth's rotation around its own axis, which determines the length of a day

When the difference between TAI and UT1 approaches 0.9 seconds, an order is issued to add a leap second worldwide by the International Earth Rotation and Reference System Service (IERS) in Paris, France.

The Science Behind Leap SecondsAtomic Time Too Accurate

The reason we have to add a second every now and then, is that Earth's rotation around its own axis, is gradually slowing down, although very slowly.

Atomic clocks, however, are programmed to tick away at pretty much the same speed over millions of years. Compared to the Earth's rotation, the atomic clocks are simply too accurate.

How Often Are Leap Seconds Added?

Before the first leap second was added in 1972, UTC was 10 seconds behind Atomic Time. So far, a total of26 leap seconds have been added. This means that the Earth has slowed down an additional 26 seconds compared to atomic time since then.

However, this does NOT mean that the days are 25 seconds longer nowadays. The only difference is that the days a leap second was added had 86,401 seconds instead of the usual 86,400 seconds.

36 Seconds Difference

The previous leap second was added on June 30, 2015 at 23:59:60 UTC. The difference between UTC andInternational Atomic Time (UTC-TAI) is now 36 sec.

Check our Time Zone News for updates about leap seconds.

They re just worrying their selves over nothing

The question -what is causing the earth the slow down? Hope we dont av a dying earth in our hands already.

sunkoye:
The question -what is causing the earth the slow down? Hope we dont av a dying earth in our hands already.

Well as it is, Man has been trying to play god for so long, but Gid will still be God with Mystries yet to be revealed to man.

tunergy:


Well as it is, Man has been trying to play god for so long, but Gid will still be God with Mystries yet to be revealed to man.

Would you rather have intelligent people sit around and explains things away with simplistic explanations like you are currently doing? or do you think if people had sat on their asses like you probably do, science, technology and medicine would have advanced this much? What has 'god' done besides being a 'confused' "mystery" that differs by these 'baseless myths' and 'illogical superstitions' called religions? Please, next time, make an intelligent contribution/comment.

samsard:
Would you rather have intelligent people sit around and explains things away with simplistic explanations like you are currently doing? or do you think if people had sat on their asses like you probably do, science, technology and medicine would have advanced this much? What has 'god' done besides being a 'confused' "mystery" that differs by these 'baseless myths' and 'illogical superstitions' called religions? Please, next time, make an intelligent contribution/comment.

You Have no Idea!
I can walk you through the mystries of science and technology without breaking a sweat, however all i know was taught and i can authoritatively tell you that the so called breakthroughs you see is as a result of series of failure and in most cases well strings of luck.
What scientists won't tell you is that all researchs are linked to cosmopolitan elements, whose origin cannot be determined but rather estimated.

And about God, i believe there is a God and He is the source of life as we know it, and He is not confused, rather Mankind relied on their own understanding which has been perfect so far.....
Look around you i am sure you can see how well Mankind is doing!!!