NASA scientists say that the Chile earthquake was so strong that that earth had probably shifted its axis and shortened the day.

The shift of axis had been estimated to be at three inches, and the speed of earth rotation is faster by 1.26 millimeters.

The Chilean earthquake is classified as a thrust earthquake, where one of the tectonic plates forces to go underneath another tectonic plate. This inward motion is strong enough to alter the earth’s rotation. Only this type of earthquake can alter the earth’s rotation and axis. However, there can be other phenomena that can alter the length of an earth day, such as volcanic eruptions and the moon’s tidal effects.