We could all use an extra hour in the day, but clocks won't need to be extended anytime soon. The time the Earth takes to make a complete rotation on its axis varies by about a millionth of a second per day, says physicist Tom O'Brian of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. While some days are shorter than average, the planet's rotation shows a long-term slowing trend, ultimately leading to a longer day.
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Science is reinventing play, from extreme sports to gamification to ridiculous roller coasters to the playgrounds of tomorrow, and this issue is chock full of fun. Also, on a less fun note: Did global warming destroy my hometown?