The concept of time has been a human construct, evolving over thousands of years. The Sumerians, around 5000 B.C., first thought of a 24-hour day and a 60-minute hour. They borrowed the sexagesimal system (base-60) from the Babylonians, which was easily divisible for fractions. The Egyptians saw day and night as both made up of 12 hours, a number easier to divide than 10.
The idea of time zones in the U.S. did not happen until around 1883. Before that, each city based its time for noon when the sun was directly overhead (12 noon). This caused chaos with the railroads, and standard time zones were needed for train schedules. In October 1884, 25 nations agreed to divide the globe into 24 time zones based on the Greenwich Meridian. Humans then came up with Daylight Saving Time, used by many countries during the world wars to save energy. Today, about 70 countries have Daylight Saving Time.
New Zealand entomologist George Hudson first proposed Daylight Saving Time in 1895. Later, Benjamin Franklin wrote a satirical essay, “An Economical Project,” which suggested conserving candles by getting people up earlier. The implementation of Daylight Saving Time has been met with mixed reactions, with some finding it confusing, especially with the Northern and Southern hemispheres having opposite seasons.
In the U.S., the “spring forward and fall back” has become a headache for many. The time change can disrupt sleep patterns, work schedules, and even affect health. Despite its challenges, Daylight Saving Time remains in use, with many countries continuing to observe it.
Originally reported by Citrus County Chronicle – Inverness
Sources: Citrus County Chronicle – Inverness
