Time stood still, if only for 1 sec

The last minute of last night (Tuesday) had 61 seconds in it as a “leap second” was added to the official time set by atomic clocks.

While 23:59:59 usually becomes 00:00:00, the leap second meant that the time became 23:59:60.

The change was to keep atomic clocks aligned with the earth’s movements. Without it, atomic time could be out of step with the earth’s movements by up to half an hour over 500-600 years – changing the timing of sunsets and sunrises, for example explained NASA.

It is only the fourth time since 2000 that a leap second has been added.

• Were you awake to witness the extra second?
• How did you spend your extra second? Let us know.