Wait a sec, what is a second? Clock ticking on upcoming redefinition

The definition of how long a second lasts has been changed more than once over the past century in an effort to be ever more precise. Now the exact length of a second is set to change again. — Photo: Jens Wolf/dpa

BERLIN: The next time a person responds to a request with a "just a second," not only can he or she be told to stop playing for time, but also be accused of not knowing what they’re talking about.

In fairness, the same applies to most people: time, like the sand in a hourglass, is hard to grasp or define. Saint Augustine of Hippo famously described it as beyond definition or description, perhaps even an extension of human consciousness.