One more second

On the night of 31st of December, the hourglass went crazy because it had to stay 2 seconds on the same second. In his office, the astronomer takes care very carefully of the Earth’s rotation. And, when needed, puts the clock “on time” every 3 of 4 years about. He then confirmed that 2008, at 11:59:59 p.m., had one more second. It’s in Paris that is decided those jumps of seconds, then applied worldwide. But if you ever enter the office of this astronomer, you’ll be disappointed : no big clock, no time machine. Only an old alarm clock, lost at the corner of the desk, under paperwork. He will then explains you that there are many ways to calculate the time. But since 1970, we stopped to take the Earth as a reference, too much unpredictable with its rotations. Instead, we use the atomic clock (based on the vibrations of the atom). This system is more precise and stable and has no controversial today. But time to time, we need to adjust the atomic clock with the Earth to avoid a big gap between both of them. The tolerated gap is maximum 0,9 second. End 2008, the gap was 0,6 and the guy says that we could have waited one more year. But they prefer to take care of it now, in case the Earth decides abruptly to turn faster. Because we don’t mess with the time. It’s even a very serious subject which has its international seminars and other diplomatic meetings. In the 1950’s, 15 minutes were not that important. Nowadays, every nanosecond (one milliard of a second) is important. To position a satellite, for example, A mistake of a second and the machine makes 5 kilometers more. For the stock exchange transactions : can you imagine if every trader does not have the same time ? Numbers of deals you can make in less than a second ? But sometimes, those little jump in the time can create some technical troubles. That is to say, a few months ago, the car manufacturer Volvo, had to call, in order to make any mistake in the programming of the new GPS. Some countries, like United States, would like, instead of jumping one second every 3-4 years, to add one hour every millennium. This is political and no scientifical considerations. Everybody wants to rule the time.Anyway, more essential question : but where is the famous “talking clock” ? Actually, not very far, in the building opposite, at the office of the physicians, guardians of the atomic hour. The time to be lost in corridors, and you will find yourself in a room, where it is controled the time reference. It’s a very small room with a lot of noisy machines, nothing extraordinary. This little grey box with black buttons, is the “talking clock” but we needed only half a second to see it. A physician came to see us and confirmed we can’t get in “ reserved domain” . In the end, we don’t mess with the time.