On July 9, 2025, scientists at the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS) reported that the Earth completed its rotation approximately 1.3 to 1.6 milliseconds faster than the standard 24-hour period. Moreover, this is expected to happen again on July 22 and August 5 this year.

Thanks to atomic clocks (and all the worldly forces that influence them), scientists know that Earth's rotation has begun to slow down, thanks in large part to the loss of ice coverage in polar regions. But for a few days this year, our planet will actually spin faster.

Scientists anticipate that Earth's rotation will quicken enough to create three shorter days between July and August, starting Wednesday, July 9.