Scientists propose that days on Earth should last 25 hours as the Moon moves away.

The rotation of the Earth is a well-known fact. We all learn in school that our planet completes one full rotation in 24 hours, giving us day and night. However, recent research conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison suggests that this rotation is not constant and is actually influenced by various astronomical bodies, particularly the Moon. This new study reveals that as the Moon gradually moves away from the Earth, it has a direct impact on the rotational speed of our planet.

The researchers speculate that approximately 1.4 billion years ago, the Earth completed one rotation in just 18 hours. That's six hours shorter than our current day! Over time, as the Moon drifts away, the rotational speed of the Earth continues to decrease. To better understand this phenomenon, scientists examined rocks from a formation that is 90 million years old. By studying these rocks, they were able to analyze the Earth's interaction with the Moon and gain valuable insights into our planet's history.

Currently, the Moon is approximately 384,400 kilometers away from Earth and takes precisely 27.3 days to complete one full rotation around our planet. Stephen Meyers, a professor of geoscience at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, explains this phenomenon by comparing the Earth to a figure skater. Just like a skater slows down when they stretch their arms out, the Earth's rotation slows down as the Moon moves away.

Meyers further suggests that beyond 1.5 billion years ago, the Moon would have been much closer to the Earth, and its gravitational interactions would have been much stronger. In fact, it is believed that the Moon's gravitational interactions with the Earth would have torn it apart. However, it is worth noting that the Moon itself is believed to be at least 4.5 billion years old, which raises some questions about the accuracy of the study.

To better understand the relationship between the length of the day and the distance between the Moon and the Earth, Meyers and Alberto Malinverno, Lamont Research Professor at Columbia, developed a statistical approach called TimeOptMCMC. This approach allowed them to assess the geological record variation and gain further insights into the intricate relationship between the Moon and our planet.

According to the study, the Moon is drifting away from the Earth at a rate of 3.82 centimeters per year. While this may not seem like much, if this trend continues, it could result in days on Earth lasting 25 hours in approximately 200 million years. Scientists refer to these variations as "Milankovitch cycles," which play a crucial role in determining the distribution of sunlight on Earth and climate rhythms.

While this study is not entirely groundbreaking, as similar research has been conducted in the past, it highlights the significance of the Moon's drifting and its potential impact on Earth. Scientists are now interested in studying even older rocks to gain a deeper understanding of the intricate relationship between the Moon and our planet.

The Earth's rotation is a fascinating journey influenced by the Moon's gradual drift. As scientists continue to explore this phenomenon, we gain valuable insights into the dynamic nature of our planet and its celestial companions. The Moon's influence on Earth's rotation is just one example of the intricate dance between astronomical bodies that shape our world.