More than 100 countries are discussing whether to keep the addition of leap seconds to the global time system . Since 1972 Whibberley said only 24 leap seconds have been used and the rate has slowed because the Earth has been speeding up over the last few decades . Score: 6 The U.S. and most European nations want to abandon the leap seconds system which they say is too cumbersome . Without the adjustment , time measured by atomic clocks and time according to the Earth 's rotation will start to deviate .
More than 100 countries are discussing whether to keep the addition of leap seconds to the global time system . Score: 6 The U.S. and most European nations want to abandon the leap seconds system which they say is too cumbersome . Without the adjustment , time measured by atomic clocks and time according to the Earth 's rotation will start to deviate .