More than 100 countries are discussing whether to keep the addition of leap seconds to the global time table . Many 21st century devices rely on incredibly accurate time keeping . Peter Whibberley , senior research scientist in the Time Group at the UK 's National Physical Laboratory , explains that people like astronomers also rely on this level of precision . The U.S. and most European nations want to abandon the leap seconds adjustment which they believe 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 table . Many 21st century devices rely on incredibly accurate time keeping . The U.S. and most European nations want to abandon the leap seconds adjustment which they believe is too cumbersome . Without the adjustment , time measured by atomic clocks and time according to the Earth 's rotation will start to deviate .