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Days getting longer as moon moves farther, slowing earth’s rotation

Published

7 years ago

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Earth Moon

Days on Earth are getting longer as the moon slowly moves farther away from us, new research shows.

According to the new study was published Monday (June 4) in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a day on Earth lasted only 18 hours about 1.4 billion years ago.

Scientists believe that when Earth and the moon were barely formed some 4.5 billion years ago, days were only five hours long.

As the moon slowly drifts away from Earth, its influence on our planet’s spin around its axis is waning, thereby making days last longer, said a report on science new portal ZME Science.

“As the moon moves away, the Earth is like a spinning figure skater who slows down as they stretch their arms out,” explains Stephen Meyers, professor of geoscience at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and co-author of the new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The moon is about 4.5 billion years old and is some 239,000 miles (385,000 kilometers) away from Earth, on average. However, due to tidal forces between our planet and the moon, the natural satellite slowly spirals away from Earth at a rate of 3.78cm (1.48in) per year, or at about the same speed at which our fingernails grow. The migration of the Moon away from the Earth is mainly due to the action of the Earth’s tides.

Without the moon, Earth could slow down enough to become unstable, but this would take billions of years and it may never happen at all.

The slowing of earth’s rotation and lengthening of days as the satellite drifted farther away is traceable in the fossil records of some creatures. For instance, the daily growth bands of corals record the number of days that occurred per year in ancient times. By one estimate, days are getting longer at a rate of 19 hours every 4.5 bn years.

Now, using a new method, called astrochronology, Meyers and colleagues were able to devise a novel way to calculate the moon’s influence on the days on Earth. Astrochronology combines astronomical theory with geological observation, allowing researchers to reconstruct the history of the solar system and better understand ancient climate change as captured in the rock record, according to a statement from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, reported Space.com.

“One of our ambitions was to use astrochronology to tell time in the most distant past, to develop very ancient geological time scales. We want to be able to study rocks that are billions of years old in a way that is comparable to how we study modern geologic processes,” said study co-author Stephen Meyers, a professor of geoscience at UW-Madison, in the statement.

The moon and other bodies in the solar system largely influence Earth’s rotation, creating orbital variations called Milankovitch cycles. These variations ultimately determine where sunlight is distributed on Earth, based on the planet’s rotation and tilt.

Earth’s climate rhythms are captured in the rock record, going back hundreds of millions of years. However, regarding our planet’s ancient past, which spans billions of years, this geological record is fairly limited, researchers said in the statement.

This can lead to some uncertainty and confusion. For example, the current rate at which the moon is moving away from Earth suggests that “beyond about 1.5 billion years ago, the moon would have been close enough that its gravitational interactions with the Earth would have ripped the moon apart,” Meyers said.

Using their new statistical method, the researchers were able to compensate for the uncertainty across time. This approach was tested on two stratigraphic rock layers: The 1.4-billion-year-old Xiamaling Formation from northern China and a 55-million-year-old record from Walvis Ridge, in the southern Atlantic Ocean.

Examining the geologic record captured in the rock layers and integrating the measure of uncertainty revealed changes in Earth’s rotation, orbit and distance from the moon throughout history, as well as how the length of day on Earth has steadily increased.

“The geologic record is an astronomical observatory for the early solar system,” Meyers said in the statement. “We are looking at its pulsing rhythm, preserved in the rock and the history of life.”

The new study was published Monday (June 4) in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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Amazon launches new Kindle Paperwhite with 16 GB storage

The global e-reader market continues to grow, with readers increasingly embracing digital platforms that blend convenience with expansive content libraries, a trend Amazon leverages with this launch.

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5 hours ago

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April 30, 2025

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Amazon headquarters with workforce restructuring news

On Wednesday, Amazon introduced the latest Kindle Paperwhite in India, elevating the e-reading experience with cutting-edge upgrades. The U.S.-based tech leader announced that the new model boasts 25% faster page turns, ensuring a seamless and immersive reading journey for book enthusiasts.

The Kindle Paperwhite features a 7-inch waterproof display with a crisp 300 ppi resolution, powered by an oxide thin-film transistor for a sharper contrast ratio that enhances text clarity. Its improved keyword touch-response system makes navigation intuitive, catering to users who value speed and precision. Readers can personalize their experience with adjustable warm light settings and a dark mode option, ideal for day or night reading.

Amazon touts an impressive battery life of up to 12 weeks on a single charge, making the device a reliable companion for avid readers. With 16 GB of storage, the Kindle Paperwhite accommodates a vast library, supported by features like X-Ray, which offers instant insights into characters, places, or terms within a book. The built-in dictionary provides quick word lookups and translations, while Word Wise displays simple definitions above challenging words, aiding language learners.

The device grants access to over 1.5 crore titles across genres, including eBooks in regional languages like Hindi, Tamil, and Marathi. Kindle Unlimited subscribers can explore more than 20 lakh eBooks, while Amazon Prime members enjoy a rotating selection of titles at no extra cost. The global e-reader market continues to grow, with readers increasingly embracing digital platforms that blend convenience with expansive content libraries, a trend Amazon leverages with this launch.

Priced at ₹16,999, the Kindle Paperwhite is available in Black and can be purchased on Amazon’s platform. This release underscores Amazon’s commitment to refining e-reader technology, blending user-friendly design with robust functionality. As digital reading gains traction in India, the new Kindle Paperwhite is poised to capture the attention of both casual readers and literary aficionados, offering a gateway to a world of stories in a sleek, portable package.

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HP launches new range of Copilot+ AI laptops in India

This enables AI functionalities to operate offline, ensuring faster processing and enhanced data privacy—a boon for users in India’s fast-evolving digital landscape.

Published

6 days ago

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April 24, 2025

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HP has unveiled an exciting new lineup of Copilot+ PCs in India, introducing four laptops crafted to deliver cutting-edge AI experiences directly on the device. Launched under the HP EliteBook, ProBook, and OmniBook series, these models cater to a wide range of users, from corporate professionals to creative minds like graphic designers and content creators.

Powered by processors from Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm, these laptops feature dedicated Neural Processing Units (NPUs) that perform 40 to 55 trillion operations per second. This enables AI functionalities to operate offline, ensuring faster processing and enhanced data privacy—a boon for users in India’s fast-evolving digital landscape.

The laptops come loaded with HP’s AI-driven tools, including the AI Companion, myHP software, and Poly Camera Pro, designed to streamline productivity and elevate communication. These tools offer real-time file analysis, crystal-clear voice output, and smart camera features for seamless video calls, making them ideal for both professional and creative tasks.

The EliteBook series, starting at Rs 87,440, targets business users with models like the EliteBook 8 and 6 series, alongside the ProBook 4. These machines boast extended battery life, robust security features, and noise-cancellation technology for distraction-free meetings. Meanwhile, the OmniBook series, priced from Rs 78,999, is tailored for content creators and collaborative professionals. This range includes the OmniBook Ultra 14, 5 16, 7 Aero 13, and X 14, offering versatility for dynamic workloads.

HP’s AI Companion enables offline file searches, saving time for busy users. The Poly Camera Pro transforms video calls with multi-camera support, background effects, and streaming-ready features, while Poly Audio ensures clear conversations by filtering out background noise and balancing volume levels.

“India is poised to lead the global AI revolution, with its vibrant talent pool and dynamic growth,” said Ipsita Dasgupta, Managing Director of HP India. “Our expanded Copilot+ portfolio empowers everyone—from entrepreneurs to students—with AI tools to thrive in this new era.”

These Copilot+ PCs will soon be available through HP’s online store and retail partners across India, promising to redefine how Indians work and create.

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Samsung Galaxy S25 FE may skip chip upgrade, could reuse Exynos 2400e

Samsung’s next Fan Edition smartphone, the Galaxy S25 FE, is likely to feature the same Exynos 2400e processor as last year’s model, according to new leaks.

Published

1 week ago

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April 23, 2025

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Samsung

Samsung appears to be following a conservative route for its upcoming Galaxy S25 FE, with reports suggesting that the smartphone will feature the same Exynos 2400e chipset used in last year’s Galaxy S24 FE. While the tech giant has not officially confirmed the device’s launch, leaks hint that the handset—codenamed R13—is already under development.

According to internal code seen by the media, the Galaxy S25 FE carries the codename siop_r13s_s5e9945, confirming its chipset as Exynos 2400/2400e. This is the same processor seen in the Galaxy S24 FE, indicating that Samsung may skip a processor upgrade this year.

If accurate, this decision places the S25 FE behind newer premium chipsets like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, Snapdragon 8 Elite, and MediaTek Dimensity 9400, potentially making the device less powerful in comparison to flagship competitors in 2025.

The Galaxy S25 FE is expected to launch towards the end of Q3 or early Q4 2025, as a more affordable variant of the Galaxy S25 series. Much like its predecessor, it will likely aim to strike a balance between performance and price, appealing to cost-conscious consumers.

Last year’s Galaxy S24 FE, launched in September 2024, came at a price of Rs. 59,999 for the 8GB + 128GB model. It featured a 6.7-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, 50MP triple rear camera, 10MP selfie camera, 4700mAh battery, and support for Galaxy AI features. If Samsung follows suit, the S25 FE could retain many of these specifications, making only minor hardware or software tweaks.

The report also mentions that the Indian variant of the Galaxy M36 5G may be powered by the Exynos 1380 chipset, the same one used in the Galaxy M35 5G. This suggests Samsung might be keeping things uniform across its mid-range portfolio for 2025.

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