Will your watch ever be an hour behind? Will the sun set later and nights become longer in the future? It sounds like a story from a science fiction film, but scientific research is indicating something else. There is a very slow, but continuous change in the movement of the Earth. This change is so subtle that we cannot feel it in everyday life, but this process can make a day in future not 24 but 25 hours.

How stable is Earth’s 24-hour day?

The 24-hour day we consider normal is actually an average value. In scientific language it is called solar day, i.e. the time between the Sun appearing in the same position in the sky twice. But the rotation speed of the Earth is not completely constant. It changes very slowly with time and due to this the length of the day also keeps increasing and decreasing subtly.

Why is the Earth’s speed slowing down?

According to scientific studies, the Earth’s rotation is slowing down at the rate of a few milliseconds per century. This change shows its impact not in minutes or hours but over thousands and millions of years. Many natural factors have a combined effect on the movement of the Earth, in which the Moon is considered to play the most important role.

Moon’s gravity and tides

The Moon creates tides in the Earth’s oceans. These tides do not remain completely in line with the Earth, but lag behind a little due to friction. This imbalance has a brake-like effect on the Earth’s rotation. As a result, the rotational energy of the Earth gradually decreases. Due to this process, the Moon is moving away from the Earth by about 3.8 centimeters every year and the length of the day is increasing.

Climate change and melting ice

Reports from NASA and other international agencies show that the ice of Greenland and Antarctica is melting rapidly. Shrinking glaciers, rising sea levels and overexploitation of groundwater are changing the distribution of the Earth’s mass. When mass moves here and there on the Earth, it affects its rotation speed and the position of its axis. This increases the length of the day at the level of milliseconds.

Earth’s internal changes are also responsible

The Earth’s mantle and core are not completely stable. Movements within them, seismic activities and changes in internal structure also have a very subtle effect on the rotation. These effects are not directly visible, but in the long run their effect is recorded on the length of the day.

difference between solar day and sidereal day

Scientists measure the day in two ways. The solar day is measured based on the Sun, while the sidereal day is the time it takes for the Earth to complete one rotation relative to distant stars. The sidereal day is about four minutes shorter than the solar day. Slight fluctuations are recorded in both of these over time, which indicate changes in the Earth’s rotation speed.

How do scientists measure the length of the day?

With the help of modern geodesy techniques, scientists measure the movement of the Earth with utmost accuracy. It includes atomic clocks, satellite laser ranging, radio signals from distant quasars and more than 100 years of data. In recent years, these data have also been made more accurate through machine learning based analysis.

When will there be a 25 hour day?

This question is as exciting as it is related to the distant future. According to current scientific estimates, it may take about 200 million years for this level of change to occur in the Earth-Moon system. That means a 25-hour day will not be possible in our lifetime or that of many future generations, but in the very distant future.

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At present the temperature is increasing very fast. Global warming is believed to be the reason for this. Meanwhile, a shocking thing has come to light in the report of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). According to this, between the years 2025 and 2029, the average temperature of the Earth is expected to be more than 1.5 °C compared to the years 1850-1900. Not only this, at least one year in the next 5 years is likely to be hotter than the hottest year till date, 2024.

According to the report, in the year 2024, the global average temperature had increased by 1.5 °C for the first time. This means that the 1.5 °C limit set by the Paris Agreement has now been temporarily exceeded.

Temperature will increase every year
The WMO report also provides that the average temperature may increase by 1.2 °C to 1.9 °C per year during 2025-29. Also, there is a possibility of heat in the Arctic region being three-four times stronger than the global average. Scientists say that every year an increase of 0.1 °C in temperature is considered dangerous, because it increases incidents like heatwave, drought, melting of snow and rise in sea level. In this way, increasing heat is increasing the risks to human life, agriculture, water resources and eco-system.

What does it mean for India-South Asia?
The report also emphasizes that the impact of heat may become more intense in areas like India and South Asia. Incidents like excessive rain, heatwave and glacier melting are going to increase rapidly here, which may impact farming, availability of water and people’s lifestyle. For this reason, scientists have appealed that people should pay attention to green energy. Plant as many trees as possible.

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In the Pak month of Ramadan, when people are busy in worship and fast, nature has wreaked havoc in Saudi Arabia. Suddenly the weather overturned and in many areas, snow shells and hailstorm caused havoc. People are in crisis due to strong winds, storms and snowfall in Mecca, Riyadh and surrounding areas.

Flood and dust storm have made the situation more serious, while civil security has appealed people to be cautious for their lives.

What is happening in Saudi Arabia?

People from many areas of Saudi Arabia are currently facing heavy rains and stormy weather. Signs of environmental change around the world are now clearly visible. Somewhere the snow is melting, then the water level of the seas is increasing. Saudi Arabia has also been hit by this change. On Tuesday, March 26, a powerful storm wreaked havoc in the Asir region of this country. This storm has made the weather of Saudi Arabia unusual, which has posed a risk of flood, hailstorm and strong winds. These incidents are part of the acute conditions due to environmental changes, which are increasing in Saudi Arabia and worldwide.

These Saudi cities are hit

This dangerous storm took many towns and cities in its chapat. There is a possibility of hailstorm and snowfall in areas like Saudi’s Mecca, Al-Bauha, Asir, Jazan. There is also a danger of flooding after heavy rains in cities like Taif and Mayan of Mecca. At the same time, storms and strong winds are also seen in Riyadh and Eastern provinces. Along with this, an alert of fog and dust storm has also been issued in these areas.

Weather Alert:

Heavy Rains & Hail Storm Hit Abha, Aseer Province, Saudi Arabia!

Intense Weather Conditions Reported on March 25, 2025. #Saudiabia #Weatherupdate #Abha pic.twitter.com/71wgdcv1mf

– Facts prime (@factsprime35) March 25, 2025

Civil security appeal

In view of the changing weather, the Directorate of Civil Protection has appealed to the people to stay away from flood affected areas, especially on the banks and rivers, which may be a victim of floods. In addition, everyone has been advised to live in safe places to avoid hailstorm and strong winds. Also, it is being said to follow all security instructions through social media and other media platforms.

What to do so that you are safe?

• If you live in a flood affected area, then immediately go to a safe place.
• To avoid hailstorm and strong winds, stay indoors and avoid going out.
• Stay updated for weather information and follow government instructions.