Broadly speaking, Earth takes roughly 24 hours to spin around on its axis. Ocean tides, volcanic activity and earthquakes can affect rotation speed. For years, however, the Earth has been spinning faster, making days shorter, though scientists aren’t 100% sure why.

On July 9, 2025, scientists at the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS) reported that the Earth completed its rotation approximately 1.3 to 1.6 milliseconds faster than the standard 24-hour period. Moreover, this is expected to happen again on July 22 and August 5 this year.

The science behind why the Earth will spin just a little bit faster on July 9, July 22, and August 5, this year.

As for when this three-day event will happen, there are three days this summer when the moon will be around its furthest distance from Earth’s equator, resulting in the slight increase in Earth’s rotational speed. Scientists are predicting that this will happen on July 9, July 22 and Aug. 5.

The speed of Earth's rotation on its axis is increasing. The result of the increasing speed of Earth's rotation has come in the form of a decrease in the daytime. Scientists say that it has now been confirmed that in the coming time we will see days of less than 24 hours.