00:00Global clocks have added a leap second 27 times.
00:03Now, international timekeepers are considering ending the practice.
00:07The reason is surprisingly practical.
00:09Earth doesn't rotate at a perfectly steady speed,
00:12but atomic clocks keep time with extraordinary precision.
00:16Leap seconds have helped keep these two measurements aligned.
00:19The problem is that inserting an extra second can confuse computer systems.
00:23Past adjustments have been linked to outages affecting online services
00:27and other digital infrastructure.
00:30That matters because precise timing supports everything from telecommunications
00:34to satellite navigation.
00:36At a meeting in France, international representatives are considering
00:40a proposal to stop adding leap seconds.
00:43Instead, atomic time would gradually drift away from Earth's rotation.
00:47The difference could eventually reach one hour.
00:49But that might take more than 3,000 years.
00:52For most people, everyday life would barely change.
00:55The bigger challenge lies inside the technology we depend on.
00:59Disclosure.
01:00This video contains stock footage and content created or enhanced using AI-assisted tools.
