11:59:59…Just a Second!

Be careful before you bid farewell to 2008… World timekeepers are tacking on a "leap second" to the last day of the year, to help match official clocks with the slowing of the Earth’s rotation. Due to factors like tides, extreme weather and other disruptions, the Earth rotation isn’t consistent and is actually slowing down. Historically, humans have measured time by the Earth’s movement around the sun. The sun’s position in the sky overhead tells you it’s noon. But since the 1950′s, atomic time, which is far more accurate and reliable, has been the standard. With a "leap second," scientists literally stop the atomic clocks for one second to reconcile the difference between these two standards. It’s not the first time scientists have used the "leap second." The last time was three years ago, but it’s rare — and to some controversial. Some scientists have proposed putting an end to the "leap second" because it can cause problems for computers and other electronic devices. Click here for more. But for now, before we leap into 2009, we’ve got an extra second to enjoy…