China's Mega-Dam is Slowing Down Earth's Rotation

China's Three Gorges Dam: A Colossal Engineering Marvel That's Slightly Altering Earth's Rotation. The Three Gorges Dam in China, a monumental feat of engineering, has inadvertently altered Earth's rotation, according to NASA. The dam's reservoir, holding a staggering 39 trillion kilograms of water, has slowed the planet's rotation by 0.06 microseconds per day and shifted the Earth's axis by two centimeters. "The sheer scale of the water displacement is comparable to major earthquakes," explains a NASA geophysicist, highlighting the dam's unexpected impact on the planet's dynamics. While the change is minuscule, it underscores the potential for large-scale human constructions to have unforeseen consequences on the Earth's systems. The discovery prompts further investigation into the potential for other inadvertent planetary changes caused by human activity. This discovery emphasizes the importance of considering the broader environmental impacts of massive infrastructure projects.