Leap second

I'm Tom Whipple.

This week, why is the Earth revolving too fast? Why does that mean that time is ticking for something called the leap second? And why is Bill Bryson using the word debauchery in the context of Britain's most respected scientific institution? Something that never revolves too fast is the return of the not at all debauched Kit Yates to Inside Science.

The mathematician has been searching the journals for the best of the other stories.

Kit, time is already ticking for us, so get on with it.

Um, it all went wrong in 1955.

That was when we made a clock that was too accurate, more accurate than the sun, and we have been dealing with the consequences, technological, metrological, philosophical, ever since.

Now, this tale of excited caesium atoms, excited diplomats, and a fudge called the leap second may be coming to its denouement.

Next month, a group of experts from around the world are going to be meeting to decide exactly what time it is.