Melting ice is altering the planet's weather, days are getting longer, Earth's rotation is slowing down, and scientists are pointing to a phenomenon not seen in millions of years.

Melting ice is altering the planet’s weather, days are getting longer, Earth’s rotation is slowing down, and scientists are pointing to a phenomenon not seen in millions of years.

Written by Flavia Marinho

Published on 18/04/2026 at 19:26

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Climate change and ice melting are making the day last longer and may directly impact the rotation of the Earth

The melting of ice caused by climate change is already causing a curious and little-known effect: days are getting longer. The change is small, but it is happening increasingly quickly.

This process occurs because the rising sea level alters the planet’s balance. As a result, the rotation of the Earth slows down, causing the length of a day to increase, even if by fractions of a second.

Ice melting changes the shape of the planet and slows down rotation

Global warming intensifies the melting of polar ice caps and glaciers, which raises ocean levels. This water spreads across the planet, mainly in the equatorial region.

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Days are increasing at the fastest rate in the last 3.6 million years

The length of days has always undergone small changes throughout Earth’s history. There have been variations between 10 and 30 milliseconds, but this occurred over millions of years.

Today the situation is different. The rate has reached 1.33 milliseconds per century, the highest rate recorded in the last 3.6 million years.

This shows that the impact of climate change is accelerating a natural process that previously occurred very slowly.

Study uses fossils and technology to understand the planet’s past

The findings were published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, an international scientific journal in the field of geosciences. The study analyzed ancient data taken from fossils and corals.

This information helped reconstruct how the climate influenced the rotation of the Earth over time. The results indicate that the current moment presents a rate of change outside the historical pattern.

Scientist explains how sea level influences the length of the day

The geoscientist Mostafa Kiani Shahvandi from the University of Vienna explained that the rise in sea level is directly linked to the phenomenon.

He stated that the rise in sea level makes the Earth’s rotation slower and the day lasts longer.

The researcher also highlighted that the climate has increasingly influenced the functioning of the planet, reinforcing the relationship between climate change and the Earth’s rotation.

Changes may affect technology, internet, and global systems

Even though they are small, these changes can thus bring significant impacts. Modern systems rely on extremely precise time measurements.

With the difference between the Earth’s natural time and modern clocks, it may be necessary to make adjustments known as leap seconds.

These adjustments can affect computer networks, digital systems, and even space navigation, which requires high precision.

Impact is still small, but concerning due to the accelerated pace

Despite the change, the direct impact on daily life is still small. There is no significant effect on ocean circulation at this moment.

The finding was published by the Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, an international scientific journal in the field of geosciences, which emphasizes that the main impact is related to time measurement.

What stands out the most is the speed at which this is happening, something that was not common in the planet’s history.

The planet is already changing faster than it seems

The increase in the length of days shows that climate change is already affecting even the Earth’s rotation, something that many people did not even imagine.

Even though it is a small change, it reveals how the planet is undergoing rapid and silent transformations.

And you, did you know that the melting of ice could even change the time of our day? Do you think this type of change could bring greater impacts in the future? Leave your comment and share this news with others.

Melting ice is altering the planet’s weather, days are getting longer, Earth’s rotation is slowing down, and scientists are pointing to a phenomenon not seen in millions of years.

Climate change and ice melting are making the day last longer and may directly impact the rotation of the Earth

Ice melting changes the shape of the planet and slows down rotation

Days are increasing at the fastest rate in the last 3.6 million years

Study uses fossils and technology to understand the planet’s past

Scientist explains how sea level influences the length of the day

Changes may affect technology, internet, and global systems

Impact is still small, but concerning due to the accelerated pace

The planet is already changing faster than it seems

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Melting ice is altering the planet’s weather, days are getting longer, Earth’s rotation is slowing down, and scientists are pointing to a phenomenon not seen in millions of years.

Climate change and ice melting are making the day last longer and may directly impact the rotation of the Earth

Ice melting changes the shape of the planet and slows down rotation

Days are increasing at the fastest rate in the last 3.6 million years

Study uses fossils and technology to understand the planet’s past

Scientist explains how sea level influences the length of the day

Changes may affect technology, internet, and global systems

Impact is still small, but concerning due to the accelerated pace

The planet is already changing faster than it seems

While a traditional school may take several days just to raise walls, in Malawi a 3D-printed school had its structure ready in 18 hours, welcomed children in June, and showed a new solution to the lack of classrooms.

With a diameter of 15.08 meters, a length of 182 meters, and weighing 3900 tons, the world’s largest tunnel boring machine for drilling super hard rock made a 9 km tunnel in Georgia and impresses with its excavation power.

Material once seen as a poor man’s choice returns as a climate bet, with red clay replacing part of the gray concrete in modern buildings, hospitals, houses, and a cultural center that transforms tradition into a solution against urban heat.

Study solves great ancient mystery: remains of Philip II, father of Alexander the Great, are identified in Vergina and resolves the enigma of the Macedonian royal tombs that had lasted half a century.

Larger than the Toyota Hilux and with a towing capacity of 3.5 tons, the new MG U9 2026 features a 2.5 turbodiesel engine, 520 Nm, 4×4 traction with three locks, and an almost full-size build.

The same university that built the first computer in the world 80 years ago has just created a particle that is half light, half matter, and can make artificial intelligence much faster while consuming a fraction of today’s energy.

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