The story so far · 2 days, October 15 to 16, 2026
One Turn followed this story across 2 editions, from Sèvres, France on October 15, 2026. Newest first.
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.
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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.
Sources: The Guardian · See it on the globe
The General Conference on Weights and Measures voted to end future leap seconds and make UTC continuous from 20 May 2027. A leap hour will be added when needed to reconcile UTC with atomic time.
Why it matters: Ending leap seconds removes a recurring source of disruption for computer systems, networks and navigation.
Sources: The Guardian · See it on the globe