Science · Sèvres · France · October 16, 2026

Scientists vote to end leap seconds and adopt a leap hour

Reported by 1 outlet · under-reported · first reported Oct 14, 8:00 PM ET

The General Conference on Weights and Measures voted to stop adding leap seconds and make UTC continuous from 20 May 2027. A leap hour will be used when needed to reconcile UTC with atomic time.

Why it matters

Ending leap seconds removes a recurring source of glitches for computers, networks and financial systems worldwide.

Background

Leap seconds have been added since 1972 to keep atomic time aligned with Earth's irregular rotation. Tech companies and timekeepers have long argued they disrupt digital systems.

The story so far

1. Oct 15Scientists vote to scrap leap seconds in favour of a leap hour
2. Oct 16Scientists vote to end leap seconds and adopt a leap hour

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Sources

• The Guardian ↗October 15, 2026

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