Atomic scientists has moved “Doomsday Clock” closer to midnight than ever before, citing Russian nuclear threats amid Ukraine war, escalating tension in the middle east, military applications of artificial intelligence and climate change as factors underlying the risks of global catastrophe.
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists set the time at 89 seconds to midnight. The last change occurred back in 2022, when the clock was set to 90 seconds to midnight after Russia invaded Ukraine.
“Our fervent hope is that leaders will recognize the world’s existential predicament and take bold action to reduce the threats posed by nuclear weapons, climate change, and the potential misuse of biological science and a variety of emerging technologies,” the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists said in a statement.
What is the Doomsday Clock and how is it set?
The Doomsday Clock was created during the Cold War in response to the threat of nuclear war. It was designed as a symbolic representation of humanity’s proximity to global catastrophe. Among its creators were renowned physicists like J. Robert Oppenheimer and Albert Einstein, who sought to provide a visual warning about the dangers posed by nuclear weapons.
Over time, the scope of the clock has expanded beyond nuclear threats to include other human-induced risks, such as biological hazards, climate change, and the misuse of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence.
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists’ Science and Security Board, consisting of experts from various fields, meets annually to evaluate global risks and determine whether the clock’s minute hand should move closer to or further from midnight—symbolizing global destruction.
