atomic clock

Survivors are probably already aware how Earth’s atomic clocks create a time gap of about 2 milliseconds every day. And that time tinkering scientists store up these milliseconds until they have an entire second to put back in the time continuum, creating an ideal time travel opportunity for any trained time tripper with an atomic device.

Tomorrow this will happen at 7:59:59 (EDT), or one second to midnight Universal Standard Time.

So what exactly do you need to leap on this timely opportunity? A simple can of Chernobly or a shiny Delorian?

The exact requirements remain a closely guarded secret, but true rumors today describe this: if you are IN THE AIR ie: leaping, at the EXACT moment the second is added, then you can land WHEN you want.

Easy right? In this case, all you ready need is an atomic clock monitor and a good pair of shoes. Just jump high enough and time it right and you’ll come down when you want.

But how do you control when exactly? That’s the real trick. What separates the true time travelers from the rest of us. And what if you live in a place that used to be the bottom of a lake or an ocean? Times can be tough!

There are other dangers. In 2008, the last leap second, there were reports of would-be leapers injured on so-called “time travel trampolines.” Sure trampolines extend your air time which helps ensure a big jump, but what happens when you land BEFORE the trampoline was invented? Not to mention if you get stuck in the springs? Broken legs, that’s what.

And then how do you leap back? A lot of survivors forget about this. Without an atomic clock handy, how will you ever get back to tomorrow?

Even with your own atomic wrist-watch, it could still be a year and a half before the next leap second. Do you really want to spend a whole year and a half fighting dinosaurs? Laugh if you want, but it has happened on these pages before.

So please remember to look before you leap. And please leave any tips you hear for the rest of us.