How the Moon may one day give us 25-hour days
Scientists say Earth’s orbit is slowing as Moon moves further away
Days on Earth are getting longer as the Moon gradually moves away from our planet, a study has found.
Researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison have worked out that around 1.4 billion years ago, a day on Earth lasted 18 hours. “This is at least in part because the Moon was closer and changed the way the Earth spun around its axis,” the Daily Mirror reports.
The “groundbreaking” discovery - described in a paper in journal Proceeding of the National Academy of Science - was made using astrochronology, a statistical method that links astronomical theory with geological observation, and that could potentially help uncover many mysteries of the universe.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The researchers were able to determine that the Moon is moving away from the Earth at a rate of 3.82cm a year, The Daily Telegraph reports. At that rate, a full day on Earth will extend to 25 hours - in about 200 million years’ time.
Professor Stephen Meyers, the author of the report, says: “The [Earth’s] geologic record is an astronomical observatory for the early solar system.
“One of our ambitions was to use astrochronology to tell time in the most distant past, to develop very ancient geological time scales.”
Although the Moon has been moving away from the Earth for more than a billion years, The Guardian says the process won’t continue forever.
At some point in the distant future, the Moon will “reach a stable distance” and will only be visible from one side of Earth, the newspaper says.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Andrew Fahie: the ex-BVI premier, cocaine-filled boats and drug trafficking plot
Under the radar Fahie's defense attorney claimed the British overseas territory leader was 'acting like the fictitious CIA agent Jason Bourne'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Ottawa climate talks: can global plastic problem be solved?
In the spotlight Nations aim to draft world's first treaty on plastic pollution, but resistance from oil- and gas-producing countries could limit scope
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Netherlands split on WFH for sex workers
Speed Read Councils concerned over 'nuisance' of at-home sex work, but others say changes will curb underground sex trade
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Dark side of the Moon: will the race to lunar South Pole spark conflict?
Today's Big Question Russia and India are competing for the ‘new lunar gold’ – but real contest will be between the US and China
By The Week Staff Published
-
China ‘trying to take control of the Moon’
feature And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden Published
-
Reach for the Moon: Nokia and Nasa to build 4G lunar network
Speed Read Deal is part of the US space agency’s plan to establish human settlements on the lunar surface
By Mike Starling Last updated
-
Nasa’s Artemis outpost: leak reveals plan for manned lunar base
In Depth US space agency aiming to launch 37 rockets to the Moon within next decade
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Can humans live on the Moon?
In Depth Nasa finds ‘moving water’ on the lunar surface
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Will China lead the space race?
In Depth Landing of Chang’e-4 probe on far side of the Moon prompts ‘trepidation’ from US and Russia
By The Week Staff Published
-
Chang’e-4: Chinese spacecraft descends upon the ‘dark side of the Moon’
In Depth A lunar rover will scan the atmosphere in bid to find out more about the Universe’s early years
By The Week Staff Published
-
Nasa discovers first signs of ice on moon’s surface
Speed Read Frozen patches could be a valuable source of water for future explorers
By The Week Staff Published