Why are we changing the way we keep time?
Summary
Science Friday explores the historic decision by global timekeepers to eliminate the leap second, a practice used to keep atomic clocks synchronized with Earth's rotation. Guest Emma Gomez from Scientific American explains how this change resolves technical outages in digital infrastructure, while physicist Dr. Judah Levine discusses the historical debate and the practical implications of decoupling time from astronomical movements.
Topics discussed
Sponsors and Kids and AI Summit announcement
Introduction: The end of the leap second
Interview with Emma Gomez: Significance of the decision
How atomic clocks and BIPM coordinate global time
The physics of cesium atoms and second measurement
Why leap seconds cause computer and internet outages
Future desynchronization with Earth's rotation
Introduction of Dr. Judah Levine
Historical and emotional debate on astronomical time
Technical reasons for abolishing leap seconds
Earth's rotation speed changes and negative leap seconds
Scale of time drift: A minute per century
The importance of time and frequency standards
Closing remarks and credits
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