Topline
Earth’s recent spell of unusually rapid rotation may have peaked, with the shortest day of 2026 set to occur on Sunday, July 26 — though people will not notice any difference. New data from the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service — the keeper of global time — reported by TimeAndDate.com indicates the planet’s rotation is slowing again after several years of record-breaking short days.
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Earth’s Fastest Spin May Be Over
Earth’s recent acceleration surprised scientists after decades of expectations that the planet’s rotation would continue its gradual long-term slowdown, according to Graham Jones, an astronomer at TimeAndDate.com. The trend first became apparent in 2020, when Earth recorded the 28 shortest days of the atomic-clock era. New records followed in 2022, while 2025 produced another run of exceptionally short days. That raised the possibility of the world’s first negative leap second, and slightly altered the path of a solar eclipse, causing some cities in Texas to be excluded. Tiny differences in Earth’s rotation affect how precisely eclipse paths are calculated. However, the latest figures suggest the period of faster rotation may now have peaked.
Why Earth’s Rotation Changes
Earth’s rotation is constantly changing by tiny amounts, even though the planet remains an exceptionally reliable timekeeper. “Earth’s spin is affected by the moon’s monthly orbit,” writes Jones. “We spin more slowly when the moon is above the equator, and more quickly when the moon is to the north or south of the equator.” Meanwhile, tidal forces gradually slow the planet over centuries and millennia. However, other factors remain more difficult to predict — such as movements within Earth’s liquid core, oceans and atmosphere. “In my opinion, Earth’s rotation has started to decelerate,” Leonid Zotov, a geodesy specialist at Moscow State University, told TimeAndDate.com. “The deepest minimum over the past decade has been passed: Earth has passed its highest velocity.”
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Background
Earlier this year, research by the University of Vienna and ETH Zürich concluded that Earth’s rotation is gradually slowing as climate change melts glaciers and polar ice sheets, redistributing water across the planet and subtly lengthening the day. Only 48% of Americans believe climate change is the result of human activity.
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Further reading
ForbesEarth’s Rotation Is Slowing Faster Than In 3.6 Million YearsBy Jamie CarterForbesEarth Is Suddenly Slowing And Days Now Last Longer, Scientists SayBy Jamie CarterForbesEarth’s Inner Core Has Been Slowing Down Since 2010, Say ScientistsBy Jamie CarterForbesWhy Earth Is Now Spinning More Slowly—And Days Are Getting LongerBy Jamie Carter