Why leap seconds could be about to change

In October, members of the General Conference on Weights and Measures will vote on a proposed change to the way time is accurately kept on Earth.

Modern atomic clocks can be synchronized with solar time by adding seconds known as leap seconds. However, Earth’s rotation is accelerating, and this could disrupt the way scientists measure time. Tom visits Setnam Shemar, chief scientist at the National Physical Laboratory, to discover how the “Time Lords” keep the world on schedule.

Associate Professor Claire Nicholls from the University of Oxford also explains why Earth’s rotation could put modern timekeeping at risk.

This week’s top science stories

Mathematical biology professor Kit Yates examines the news and investigates two of the week’s biggest science stories:

• How scientists can determine the body temperature of Tyrannosaurus rex from fossils.
• Whether the record for the warmest temperature tolerated on Earth by a composite life form made up of eukaryotic cells has been broken.

Royal Society Trivedi Book Prize

Coverage of the Royal Society Trivedi Book Prize continues ahead of next week’s announcement of the winners. Former winner and judge Bill Bryson speaks to Tom about why he holds the award so fondly.

Shortlisted author Lise Barnoud discusses her book Hidden Guests, which explores the surprising science of microchimerism and how some cells in your body may not be your own.

Listen to BBC Inside Science

For more engaging science content, visit bbc.co.uk, search for BBC Inside Science and follow the link to The Open University.

Programme credits

Presenter: Tom Whipple

Producers: Alex Mansfield, Katie Tomsett and Tabitha Taylor Buck

Editor: Ilan Goodman

Production Coordinator: Jana Bennett Holdsworth