Scientists have finally unlocked a long-standing planetary mystery: why the precise length of an Earth day fluctuates by a few milliseconds over several decades. According to a groundbreaking study published in the journal Nature, the secret lies thousands of kilometers beneath our feet. Researchers discovered that subtle shifts and rotational changes in Earth’s liquid inner core apply a powerful gravitational tug on the mantle. This ongoing trade of momentum, balanced by core-mantle boundary friction and electromagnetic drag, confirms that our deep interior is far more dynamic than previously thought, directly impacting how we measure time on the surface.
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