Just A Second

Almost nobody will be aware of it, but on Monday just before 8 p.m. official timekeepers all over the world will stop their clocks in order to add an extra second, a leap second, to the calendar.

The added moment will keep clocks in sync with the Earth's rate of rotation, which varies by a microfraction each day and needs to be nudged back to Ground Zero, so to speak, every little once in a while. Or, as the United States Commerce Department explains it, "Since we can't speed up the Earth, we have to slow down the clocks."

If, however, you happen to be in charge of an electric power grid, a computer network or other communications system, navigation equipment, or a similar scientific device, you had better be prepared to make a pretty crucial adjustment.

What they say is true, for some people, a whole lot more than for others. Every little second counts.