Hold onto your hats, because starting July 9, the Earth is set to spin a bit faster for three days this summer! This phenomenon will technically shorten our daily hours, but thankfully, it’s just a fraction of a second—so minute you won’t even notice.

How much faster are we talking, you ask? Well, it’s a mere couple of milliseconds—less time than it takes to blink an eye. So, while the clock strikes 24 hours, those seconds will slip away.

Why Is Earth Spinning Faster?

You might be wondering, what’s causing this speedy spin? Our planet isn’t as precise as we’d like to think. While it takes roughly 86,400 seconds to complete one rotation, various factors can tweak this time frame.

One major culprit is the position of the moon. As it drifts far to the north or south of the Earth's equator, our planet picks up speed. In addition, natural events such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tidal forces can also influence our rotational rhythm. Notably, Japan’s devastating 8.9 magnitude earthquake in 2011 made Earth spin just a tad quicker, slicing 1.8 microseconds off the length of a day.

When Will These Changes Occur?

Mark your calendars! Here are the three days this summer when you'll notice (or not really notice) the Earth speeding up:

- **July 9:** Day shortened by **1.30 milliseconds**.

- **July 22:** Day loses **1.38 milliseconds**.

- **August 5:** Day is cut down by **1.51 milliseconds**.

Isn’t There a Shortest Day of the Year?

You might be thinking of the winter solstice, which occurs in mid-December. This is when the Northern Hemisphere experiences the fewest daylight hours, making it feel like the shortest day of the year.

Will We Always Have 24-Hour Days?

With Earth’s rotation fluctuating, you might wonder if our days will always remain 24 hours long. The truth is, while these changes are tiny now, they have been tracked since the 1950s using atomic clocks. So, while we’re not in immediate danger of losing our precious 24-hour days, it's a fascinating reminder that even our planet has its quirks!