When The Earth Doesn't Turn

=20Earth's=20rotation=20is=20slowing=20slightly=20 with=20time;=20t=
hus,=20a=20day=20was=20shorter=20in=20the=20past.= 20This=20is=20du=
e=20to=20the=20tidal=20effects=20the=20Moon=20has= 20on=20Earth's=
=20rotation.=20Atomic=20clocks=20show=20that=20a=2 0modern-day=20is=
=20longer=20by=20about=201.7=20milliseconds=20than =20a=20century=
=20ago,=20slowly=20increasing=20the=20rate=20at=20 which=20UTC=20is=
=20adjusted=20by=20leap=20seconds.=20Analysis=20of =20historical=20=
astronomical=20records=20shows=20a=20slowing=20tre nd=20of=20about=
=202.3=20milliseconds=20per=20century=20since=20th e=208th=20centur=
y