2024 is a Leap Year: What is the science and significance of this special year?

2024 is a Leap Year, which means here is an extra day in February.

Each year has 365 days. But every four years our calendars receive an additional day. Known as ‘leap day,’ this extra day falls on February 29

Why do we have leap years?

It takes approximately 365.25 days for Earth to orbit the Sun —  a solar year. When added, four 0.25 days roughly equal one full day. But the days are usually rounded off in a calendar year to 365. To make up for the missing partial day, one extra day is added to our calendar approximately every four years. That is a leap year and it helps keep us in sync with the seasons.

Are leap years really that important?

Leap years play a crucial role in aligning our calendar year with the solar year, representing the time it takes for Earth to complete one orbit around the Sun. While subtracting 5 hours, 46 minutes, and 48 seconds from a year may seem insignificant, the cumulative effect of subtracting almost 6 hours annually over many years can lead to significant discrepancies and disruptions in our calendar system. For instance, let's consider December, typically a cold month in many regions. Without the inclusion of leap years, the accumulated missing hours would result in additional days, weeks, and eventually months over time. In a few hundred years, this could lead to a scenario where December, originally a cool winter month, would occur during the warm summer months due to the gradual shift in the calendar. It could also impact other aspects of life, such as the growing and harvesting of crops.

What happens if you were born on February 29?

February 29 is considered the rarest birthday one can have. Surprisingly, at least 5 million people around the world celebrate their birthday on leap day, as reported by the History Channel. The odds of being born on February 29 are approximately one in 1,461. Isn’t that an excuse to have a really special birthday party every four years!