
AI-generated summary
Leap seconds have been in use since 1972, and have been observed 27 times so far. The adjustment was to add one second to the time based on atomic clocks, but there was a risk that it would cause problems with computers and communication systems.
The International General Assembly of Weights and Measures, an international conference to establish a universal unit of measurement, was held in France on the 15th and officially decided to effectively abolish the ``leap second,'' which adjusts the time difference between the rotation of the earth and atomic clocks. There were concerns that the system would malfunction due to leap seconds, but starting in May 2027, it is expected that deviations of up to one hour (3,600 seconds) will be tolerated, eliminating the need for adjustments for centuries.
[Special feature] What is a leap second? ~Mystery of time~
According to the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, the leap second was adopted in 1972. To date, adjustments have been made 27 times to add one second to the time based on atomic clocks, which are highly accurate and have little error. Adding one second could cause trouble to computers and communication systems. There was a possibility that in the future it would be necessary to subtract one second, and there were concerns that the danger would be even greater in that case.
If deviations of up to one hour are allowed, it is expected that there will be no need for adjustments for hundreds of years, which will help reduce the risk of troubles arising from adjustments.

The Japan Meteorological Agency issued an emergency earthquake early warning (warning) from Hokkaido to the Hokuriku and Tokai regions at 12:40 p.m. on the 16th, but canceled it at the 48th minute because it incorrectly rated an M6.9 earthquake near the Kamchatka Peninsula as a M9.9 earthquake in the Kuril Islands. Ayaki Ebita, head of the Earthquake and Tsunami Monitoring Division, apologized and cited the possibility of a software processing problem.

A research team including the National Cancer Center and Kyoto University has developed a new method for large-scale analysis of DNA sequences at the center of human chromosomes, called centromeres. It is expected that this will contribute to elucidating the mechanisms of diseases such as cancer and the evolutionary process of humankind.

Professor Emeritus Kenzo Go (76) of Tokyo University of Science receives the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. He worked to solve the mystery of why amino acids and sugars only have one enantiomer, and was awarded the award for his discovery of asymmetric autocatalytic reactions. He talked about the research on chirality that originated from Pasteur's experiments.

Kenzo Soai, Professor Emeritus of Tokyo University of Science, who was selected to receive the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, gave an interview to Jiji Press and reflected on the research progress that led to the discovery of ``asymmetric autocatalytic reactions,'' which are related to the origin of life, and the influence of his mentor, the late Mitsuaki Mukaiyama.

Professor Emeritus Kenzo Soai (76) of Tokyo University of Science discovered ``asymmetric autocatalytic reactions'' and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. This discovery will lead to elucidation of why life on Earth uses only left-handed molecules, and will serve as a starting point for research on the origin of life on asteroids and in the Martian sphere, including the Hayabusa2 exploration of Ryugu and the future MMX mission.

On the 8th, one day after the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was announced, Professor Emeritus Kenzo Go of Tokyo University of Science responded to an interview in Shiki City, Saitama Prefecture. While talking about his joy at receiving the award, he expressed his desire to continue his research.