June 29: When our Earth set a new speed record

On June 29, 2022, our Earth set a new record. It completed a spin on its axis in 1.59 milliseconds shorter than its normal 24 hours, making it the shortest day ever recorded, The Independent reported.

Earlier, the shortest day of all time was measured on July 19 2020 - 1.47 milliseconds under 24 hours. Measurements on speed of rotation started in the 1960s.


The report also said that Earth nearly set a new record as recently as July 26, when it completed its rotation in 1.50 milliseconds under 24 hours.

Atomic clocks show that Earth's speed of rotation has recently been increasing. The causes are unknown, but there are different hypotheses, starting with the polar regions getting lighter due to the melting ice.

The increase in speed hardly affects humans, but scientists say it can have consequences for computers and communications systems.