The Earth is losing speed, like a spinning top that rotates more and more slowly. NASA also noted that changes in the distribution of the Earth's mass influence the length of the day. That is, it does not all depend on outer space.
Rotation speed The melting of glaciers, the displacement of huge volumes of water, variations in the atmosphere, and even large earthquakes can modify, albeit minimally, the speed of rotation. When the planet's mass is redistributed, its moment of inertia changes. And when that happens, the rotation adjusts.
Bavaria, January 16, 2026 (NA) -- The Technical University of Munich, one of the most prestigious in Germany, reinstated in the scientific community that the Earth's rotation is slowing down, and the consequence is that the day is lengthening by a few thousandths of a second each time. At this rate, the possibility of having 25-hour days would be in about 200 million years, according to projections accessed by the Argentine News Agency. The increase is constant, as it is estimated that 1.5 billion years ago, days were only 19 hours long.
Atomic clocks, a subterranean laser, and high-precision observation systems have allowed the conclusion to be drawn that, in the long run, measurements in clocks and calendars will be modified, due to the fact that the planet is slowing down. This is nothing new, but rather the consequence of a natural process that has been underway for millions of years.
The researchers used a ring laser owned by the Wettzell Geodetic Observatory to calculate the rotation speed.
NASA's calculations «Strictly speaking, a day lasts 86,400 seconds. However, the mean solar day is approximately 86,400.002 seconds,» NASA states in one of its popular science articles. It is so imperceptible that no human being can perceive it, but accumulated over millions of years, it becomes significant.
The gravitational interaction between the Earth, the Moon, and the Sun is the main responsible for this phenomenon. Tides are not just a coastal spectacle: they are a manifestation of colossal forces that also act as a silent brake on the Earth's rotation. Every time the ocean moves due to lunar attraction, friction is generated. And that friction, repeated without pause for millions of years, robs energy from the planet's spin. It is a slow but constant process. These are the truths of physics.
Both NASA and European researchers are clear: this is not an imminent scenario, but the deceleration is extremely slow. To put it in context: 200 million years ago, dinosaurs dominated the Earth, the continents were in a different position, and mammals were little more than marginal creatures. That is, we are talking about time scales that completely exceed human history.
24x7 24-hour days are a natural phenomenon that has shaped the life of planet Earth. Humans and animals adapted their habits such as feeding, sleeping, and reproduction based on this schedule, but everything could change in the future. The first effect to be considered would be disruptions to circadian rhythms. Living organisms, humans and animals alike, have biological clocks adjusted in a 24-hour cycle. An extension in duration would imply sleep disorders, fatigue, changes in metabolism, digestive problems, among others.
In the same vein, it would affect the photosynthesis cycles of light and darkness, a factor that would modify the food chains.
