‘A 0.06 microseconds delay’: NASA says China is slowing Earth down
Produced by: Manoj Kumar
Subtle Shift
NASA revealed that the colossal Three Gorges Dam in China slightly alters Earth’s rotation, stretching days by 0.06 microseconds.
Colossal Marvel
Towering at 185 meters and spanning over 2 kilometers, the dam holds 40 billion cubic meters of water.
Record Power
Generating 22,500 MW of electricity, it’s the most powerful hydroelectric plant on Earth, breaking records in 2020 with 112 TWh.
Planetary Ripple
The dam’s water displacement redistributes Earth’s mass, slowing its rotation, according to NASA’s Benjamin Fong Chao.
Cosmic Feat
The shift is tied to the moment of inertia—a principle in rotational dynamics—making this impact both subtle and staggering.
Man-Made Impact
Groundwater extraction and massive dams have measurable effects, like shifting Earth’s axis and influencing sea levels.
Axis Altered
The 2004 Indonesian tsunami displaced the North Pole by 2.5 cm, showing parallels to human-made changes.
Sci-Fi Reality
What feels like a scene from science fiction—humanity’s influence on planetary dynamics—is now real.
Global Reminder
The Three Gorges Dam exemplifies how human innovation can reshape Earth’s systems, intentionally or otherwise.