Leap Second Effectively Scrapped
International standards bodies have approved the abolition of the leap second starting in May 2027. This change allows the gap between atomic clocks and Earth's rotation to grow up to an hour, preventing potential technical failures in global computer systems.
Why it matters
Eliminating leap seconds reduces the risk of catastrophic software bugs and system crashes in critical global communications and financial infrastructure.
Tokyo, Oct. 16 (Jiji Press)--The international body overseeing global measurement standards on Thursday approved the effective abolition of the leap second.
The gap between Earth's rotation and atomic clocks, which are highly precise, will be allowed to widen to as much as 3,600 seconds, or an hour, from May 2027.
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