Google Cancels Leap Second Protocol

The Leap Second Protocol, which was introduced in 1972 to account for the Earth's slightly irregular rotation, will no longer be used. The decision was made by the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS), a body responsible for maintaining the global time standard. The last leap second was added in December 2021. The change will take effect in 2023, and it is expected to eliminate the need for manual adjustments to the atomic clock. The new protocol will use a more accurate method to account for the Earth's rotation. ## Key Technical Details * The Leap Second Protocol was used to add a leap second every few years to keep the global time standard in sync with the Earth's rotation. * The protocol was introduced in 1972 and was used until the last leap second in December 2021. * The new protocol uses a more accurate method to account for the Earth's rotation, eliminating the need for manual adjustments. ## Industry & Architecture Impact * The change will have a significant impact on developers and architects who rely on the global time standard. * The new protocol will require updates to software and hardware that rely on the Leap Second Protocol. * The change will also affect the way that time is kept and measured globally. *Source: Google Tech News