JANUARY 1 , 2026 (Ozi News Desk) : Imagine a future where the clock ticks past midnight and the day still isn’t over. As strange as it sounds, scientists say a 25-hour day on Earth is not science fiction but a distant possibility. The reason lies beneath our feet: the planet’s rotation is slowly, almost imperceptibly, losing speed.
The familiar 24-hour day is not based on a perfectly steady spin. It simply refers to the time Earth takes to rotate until the Sun returns to the same position in the sky. In reality, Earth’s rotation subtly fluctuates, and long-term measurements show it is gradually slowing down.
Earth’s Rotation Is Gradually Slowing
Studies indicate that Earth’s rotation is slowing at a rate of milliseconds per century, not minutes or hours. Over extremely long periods, however, these tiny changes add up.
In the far future, this could result in a 25-hour day.
The Moon’s Gravitational Pull
The Moon’s gravity plays the biggest role in slowing Earth’s rotation and lengthening our days. The Moon creates tidal bulges in Earth’s oceans, which lag slightly behind due to friction. This lag acts as a brake on Earth’s rotation.
As a result, Earth loses rotational energy, and the Moon slowly moves away from the planet at a rate of about 3.8 centimetres per year.
Climate Change And Melting Ice
Climate change also plays a role. According to NASA studies, melting ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica, shrinking glaciers, and excessive groundwater use are redistributing Earth’s mass. Rising sea levels cause the planet’s spin axis to shift slightly, adding fractions of a millisecond to the length of each day.
Since 2000, global warming has intensified these effects.
Solar Day vs Sidereal Day
Scientists also distinguish between a solar day and a sidereal day. A solar day is the familiar 24-hour period measured by the Sun, while a sidereal day measures Earth’s rotation relative to distant stars.
A sidereal day is about four minutes shorter than a solar day, and both show small fluctuations over time.
How Scientists Measure Earth’s Rotation?
To track these tiny changes, scientists use advanced geodesy techniques. These include radio signals from distant quasars, satellite laser ranging, atomic clocks, and over 120 years of observational data.
Machine-learning tools help analyse Earth’s rotation speed, polar motion, and day length with exceptional precision.
When Will Earth Have A 25-Hour Day?
Although the idea is fascinating, it is unimaginably far in the future. Based on current scientific models of the Earth-Moon system, it could take around 200 million years for a day to lengthen from 24 to 25 hours.
No Need For Alarm
A 25-hour day is scientifically possible but practically irrelevant for humanity. Clocks, calendars, school schedules, and office timings will remain unchanged.
The real takeaway is that Earth is a living, dynamic planet, changing millisecond by millisecond. In the age of climate change, these tiny shifts serve as subtle reminders of the planet’s evolving health.
