Joseph Chance

Well, it's kind of like Y2K, but a bit more complicated.

You see, our computers track time using something called Unix time, which counts the seconds since January 1st, 1970, using a 32-bit number.

The biggest number that can be stored this way is 2 to the power of 31 minus 1.

That's 2,147,483,647 seconds.

And that second count will be reached on, you guessed it, January 19, 2038.

Any 32-bit computer systems will then reset to a negative count of 2,147,483,647 seconds.

which would be January the 13th, 1901.

That could lead to a lot of fatal errors.

there is thankfully and it's a very simple fix it just involves switching a computer to a 64-bit system instead of a 32-bit one what's more most computers already use a 64-bit system so it's just a matter of reprogramming all remaining systems to that format it is more expensive but has way more room than with 32 bits

we're talking about a deadline extension of over 290 billion years, almost 21 times the age of the universe itself.

Who knows what the world will look like at that point, and what solution will be found to the inevitable year 292 billion problem, but it's fair to say that we have plenty of time to prepare.

There you have it.

Now you know what threat the year 2038 problem poses to our computers.

Now you know how to avoid bedbugs when you travel.

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