[LEAPSECS] "Why the day is 24 hours long"

[Seaman, Robert Lewis - (rseaman)]

The Babylonians would perhaps aver this is not the best possible title: “Why the day is 24 hours long: The history of Earth’s atmospheric thermal tide, composition, and mean temperature”. In any event, there are lots of resonances and near-resonances in the solar system. If any dynamicists are reading, please comment on the geophysics.

https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/07/the-gravitational-interactions-that-have-helped-us-dodge-60-hour-days/

Not sure why “dodge” would be the right verb here. As one comment says: “Apparently every planet gets a predetermined set of hours before it explodes. Like a hot pocket in a microwave.” Fewer, longer days might have been preferable.

It’s so rare that we get a new talking point here. This morning’s breakfast burrito attests to the microwave-derived insight.

Rob

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