The 24-hour day is not fixed but slowly stretching, and in the dinosaurs' time it was shorter: the Moon's pull is gently braking Earth's spin, so a day back then ran about 23.5 hours, and far shorter deeper in the past

The 24-hour day is not a fixed constant, but rather a temporal measurement that is slowly stretching over time. Scientific observation reveals that the Moon’s gravitational pull acts as a brake on Earth's spin, a phenomenon that has dictated day length for eons. During the era of the dinosaurs, a single day lasted approximately 23.5 hours, with even shorter days occurring in the more distant past.

Coverage from Space Daily and The Economic Times highlights that the Moon is drifting away from Earth at a rate of 3.8 centimeters per year. This ongoing recession of the Moon suggests significant long-term changes, including the eventual conclusion of total solar eclipses. Mashable India and The Times of India note the broader implications of this celestial migration for the planet's rotation.

While the day continues to lengthen, future developments regarding the precise timeline of these orbital changes are not yet specified. Researchers continue to examine how the Moon's increased distance from Earth will influence the planet's spin in the coming geological epochs. The Star raises questions about the long-term stability of the Earth-Moon system, though current reports offer no specific date for when these shifts will culminate in observable changes to daily life.