Science
Timekeepers Vote to Replace Leap Second With Leap Hour
October 15, 2026 at 05:27 PM
Delegates from 69 countries have voted to replace the leap second with the leap hour, adjusting coordinated universal time from next year.
- Delegates voted Thursday in Versailles to replace the leap second with the leap hour, taking effect next year.
- NPL principal scientist Setnam Shemar said the leap hour arrives after 30 years of debate and reduces risks to systems dependent on accurate time.
- Timekeepers have added 27 leap seconds since 1972, with the last one applied in 2016.
- The 2012 leap second crashed Reddit and LinkedIn servers and disrupted Qantas bookings.