This summer, something strange is happening to our planet. It is spinning faster than normal, which means that some days are shorter by precious milliseconds. The Moon and Earth will be pulling on each other more strongly on July 9, July 22, and August 5, 2025. This will speed up the rotation of the Earth, making these days 1.3 to 1.51 milliseconds shorter than the usual 24 hours. This event is part of a bigger, changing relationship between Earth’s rotation and cosmic forces that has been going on for billions of years, even though we can’t see it. But what is making this sudden speed-up happen? Could people be to blame?
Why Is Earth’s Rotation Speeding Up?
Earth’s rotation isn’t always the same; it changes because of gravity, mass shifts, and even changes that people make. The Moon’s gravity pulls on the Earth, which makes it spin more slowly over time. This adds about 1.7 milliseconds to the length of a day every century. Scientists have seen short periods in the last few years when the Earth spins faster, which makes days shorter.
The Moon’s position will cause the speed to increase in July and August 2025. The Moon’s pull on the Earth’s equatorial bulge weakens when it is farthest from the equator. This lets the Earth spin a little faster, like a figure skater pulling their arms in to spin faster.
The Moon’s Role in Earth’s Changing Spin
Earth used to spin much faster, and a day only lasted 19 hours because the Moon was closer and had a stronger tidal force. The Moon moved away over time, which made the Earth spin more slowly. But now, subtle orbital mechanics are causing temporary speed boosts.
On July 9, July 22, and August 5, the Moon’s alignment will minimize its braking effect, leading to those fractional millisecond reductions in day length. These changes are very small, but they are part of a larger pattern of rotational variability caused by celestial mechanics.
Human Activity Is Also Altering Earth’s Rotation
It’s surprising that people are affecting the Earth’s spin, not just the Moon. Climate change is causing glaciers to melt and groundwater to move, which changes the mass of the Earth. A NASA study from 2023 found that ice melting in Greenland and Antarctica has made the days longer by 1.33 milliseconds every century since 2000.
The 2011 earthquake in Japan changed the planet’s mass inward, which made the day shorter by 1.8 microseconds. Even huge earthquakes can change the rotation of the Earth. Changes in the seasons also matter. For example, when trees grow leaves in the summer, the mass moves a little farther away from the Earth’s axis, which slows down rotation.
Will We Ever Lose or Gain a Full Second?
The changes are too small to change our clocks right now, but over the years, they will add up. The International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS) keeps an eye on these changes and adds a “leap second” to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) from time to time to keep atomic clocks in sync with the rotation of the Earth.
Should the Earth’s rotation accelerate further, we may require the implementation of a negative leap second to remove a second from global timekeeping. Although this scenario remains hypothetical, timekeeping experts are already researching modifications to our current systems.
Could Earth’s Spin Ever Drastically Change?
So long as something catastrophic does not occur in outer space, we do not need to worry about the Earth’s rotation dramatically decelerating or accelerating. In the long run, however, it appears days will increase in length, albeit at an extremely glacial pace. This is suggested by the fact that the Moon is drifting away from us; in 200 million years, a day on Earth could last around 25 hours.
We have previously discussed 2025 and its associated speed up. The latter will be triggered on account of the sudden disappearance of the Coriolis force, so it is indeed an interesting facet of planetary mechanics which goes to show just how interconnected our Earth is in relation to the rest of the universe, and even between human activities.
What Does This Mean for Us?
To be precise, nothing. A one and a half millisecond shorter day wouldn’t disrupt daily activities or any system that relies on technology. Overtly, it is a reminder that Earth is an active, restless system, even the duration of which isn’t immutable.
With every change, we are able to understand more of Earth’s history, and its future attributes, and proves that at times, even an entity so elementary as time is considerably flexible in its nature.
Final Thought: A Planet in Constant Motion
The forces that keep the Earth spinning are cosmic, geological, and now, human-made. Even though this summer’s speed-up is only temporary, it shows a deep truth: our planet is never really still. Every change, no matter how small, leaves a mark on time itself. For example, the Moon’s pull and melting ice sheets.
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Suhail Ahmed is a passionate digital professional and nature enthusiast with over 8 years of experience in content strategy, SEO, web development, and digital operations. Alongside his freelance journey, Suhail actively contributes to nature and wildlife platforms like Discover Wildlife, where he channels his curiosity for the planet into engaging, educational storytelling.
With a strong background in managing digital ecosystems — from ecommerce stores and WordPress websites to social media and automation — Suhail merges technical precision with creative insight. His content reflects a rare balance: SEO-friendly yet deeply human, data-informed yet emotionally resonant.
Driven by a love for discovery and storytelling, Suhail believes in using digital platforms to amplify causes that matter — especially those protecting Earth’s biodiversity and inspiring sustainable living. Whether he’s managing online projects or crafting wildlife content, his goal remains the same: to inform, inspire, and leave a positive digital footprint.
