The call by US scientists for the end of "leap seconds", where an extra second is added periodically to keep clocks in sync with the rotation of the Earth was investigated by Newsnight reporter Stephen Smith in 2005.

Newsnight's librarian Adam Gotch chose this light-hearted film because it is a good example of an on-the-day Newsnight film with a sense of humour that really taps the rich vein of BBC archive material and called for his creative input. He was closely involved in finding the archive, which he says can sometimes be difficult to locate in the BBC Library, but, when found, can be just the right material.

Originally broadcast on 10 November 2005.

A special programme to mark Newsnight's 30th anniversary will be broadcast on Saturday 23 January 2010 at 8pm on BBC Two.