Slashdot Mirror
U.S. Scientists Call for a Time Change
saqmaster writes "The BBC reported yesterday that U.S. scientists want to change the current system which keeps clocks in sync with solar time by adding a leap second every 18 months or so. This has rattled a few cages with the scientists and operators involved in GMT-related projects and facilities as it would effectively remove the importance of the meridian from timing. "
Why not just forget about time zones, day light savings and create a new universal global time.
Because that would be incredibly dumb.
First, the vast majority of people the world during daylight hours (only 20% work during night in industrialized countries, and no one works at night in pre-industrial nations.), so your "outgrowing" observation is wrong.
Second, you're talking about arbitrarily making half the world's population nocturnal. In case you haven't noticed, but humans are not nocturnal creatures. Human circadian rhythms are linked to the length of daylight. Humans become depressed when not exposed to sunlight. Humans require sunlight to manufacture vitamin D in the skin. Humans like to be able to see, and we can't see too well at night. (That's why we have a primeval fear of the dark.)
There are no doubt many other biological reasons. These are just the ones off the top of my head.