leap second debate

The leap second debate concerns whether to add an extra second to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) to keep clocks aligned with Earth's slightly irregular rotation. Earth's rotation isn't perfectly steady, causing small discrepancies between atomic time (very precise) and solar time (based on the sun's position). Sometimes, a leap second is added to prevent these differences from growing too large. Advocates say it maintains accuracy for navigation and astronomy, while critics argue it causes technical complications in digital systems and infrastructure. Decisions on adding leap seconds are made by international bodies, balancing scientific precision with practical considerations.