By the time Sunday evening rolls around, many people experience a melancholy feeling. They dread Monday, which is usually the start of the school and work week. The “Monday blues” is a real issue, and a recent discovery may explain the reason as to why.

Not only is Monday dreaded for the start of the long week, and the end of the weekend, but students researching the Earth’s daily rotation found an Earth-shattering discovery: It takes the Earth 32 hours to rotate on Mondays, and Mondays only. The reason that Mondays feel so long and slow is that they are. There are an extra eight hours to the day. 

When hearing this news, Bella Boyum asks, “How has no one noticed this before? The clocks would be all off, and it would be apparent that there were extra hours on a Monday!” There is no definite answer to the question, though some of the researchers have theories. One of the researchers theorized that the Earth gets closer to the Sun than usual on Mondays. On that day, the heavy amount of radiation from being closer to the Sun alters the clocks and internet, making each second worth more, which eventually adds up to more minutes, then more hours, while still seeming normal on clocks and screens.

This theory is disputed by many, but another plausible explanation is yet to come along. Until then, citizens will just have to accept that Mondays are the longest day of the week. “I commonly feel tired and fatigued on Mondays,” says Isla Harrison. Harrison takes this new information as useful and as a reason behind the exhaustion many feel on Mondays. Though this new discovery may not be the whole reason for the Monday Blues, it is a piece of the puzzle that’s been figured out.