Humanity is ‘100 seconds from annihilation’: Doomsday clock remains unchanged for the third year in a row because the ‘world is no safer than it was last year at this time’
- Scientists unveiled the Doomsday clock for the 75th time since 1947
- The clock remains at 100 seconds to midnight for the third year in a row
- This is because the ‘world is no safer than it was last year at this time’
- Nuclear war risks, a lack of action toward climate change, the spread of misinformation and conflict in space are part of Thursday’s decision
The Doomsday clock will remain at 100 seconds to midnight for the third year in a row because the ‘world is no safer than it was last year at this time.’
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists unveiled the clock, which keeps track of the likelihood of humanity’s annihilation, for the 75th time since it first debuted in 1947.
Since then, the group has annually announced if the Doomsday Clock’s minute hand has moved closer to or away from midnight – the marker for disaster.
‘The Doomsday clock continues to hoover dangerously, reminding us just how much work is needed to ensure a safer and healthier planet,’ Rachel Bronson, president of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, said during the live unveiling of the Doomsday clock.
‘We must continue to push the hands of the clock away from midnight.’
The board’s decision was based on several events including nuclear war risks, a lack of action toward climate change, the spread of misinformation and conflict in space.
Although the clock holds steady, the bulletin of Atomic Scientists say the announcement means we are ‘stuck in a moment that brings neither stability nor security.’
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The Doomsday clock will remain at 100 seconds to midnight for the third year in a row because the ‘world is no safer than it was last year at this time.’ The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists unveiled the clock for the 75th time since it first debuted in 1947
The clock was founded by US scientists involved in the Manhattan Project that led to the first nuclear weapons during World War II and is a symbolic countdown to represent how close humanity is to complete global catastrophe.
Artist Martyl Langsdorf was commissioned to make the clock and told to to create an image that would ‘frighten men into rationality,’ according to Eugene Rabinowitch, the first editor of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists.
The time is determined by the group of scientists who look at events throughout the year.
This can include politics, energy, weapons, diplomacy and climate science, along with potential sources of threat like nuclear threats, climate change, bioterrorism and artificial intelligence.
The clock was founded by US scientists involved in the Manhattan Project that led to the first nuclear weapons during World War II and is a symbolic countdown to represent how close humanity is to complete global catastrophe. Pictured is the first unveiling in 1947
Thursday’s decision was based on a new nuclear arms race involving North Korea (pictured) that continues to expand its arsenal, unsuccessful attempts to revive the Iran nuclear deal and the looming war between Russia and Ukraine
And It has been set backward and forward 24 times since 1947.
Thursday’s decision was based on a new nuclear arms race involving North Korea that continues to expand its arsenal, unsuccessful attempts to revive the Iran nuclear deal and the looming war between Russia and Ukraine.
The group of scientists also point fingers at Russia, China and the US for their push to develop hypersonic missiles.
The lack of action toward ending climate change was also included in Thursday’s decision, as the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists say governments are only providing the world with empty promises.
The lack of action toward ending climate change was also included in Thursday’s decision, as the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists say governments are only providing the world with empty promises. The graph shows global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions, 1990-2021
‘There was only partial progress toward defined accounting rules to allow international markets for greenhouse gas emissions and removals to develop,’ reads the scientists’ 2022 statement.
‘Developed countries again failed to follow through on treaty commitments to provide necessary financial and technological support.’
Raymond Pierrehumbert, PhD, Halley Professor of Physics at the University of Oxford, said in a statement: ‘The experience of a deepening crisis has animated protests and other civil society expressions of alarm this year.
The spread of misinformation is also listed, which the board notes is a major issue in the US. Misinformation about the coronavirus is also spreading like wildfire worldwide, which is ‘crippling the ability of public health authorities and medical science to achieve higher vaccination rates
Finally, tensions over military space activity have increased in the past few years. One of the biggest threats was Russia’s anti-missile satellite test in November that created a debris cloud that orbited dangerously close to the International Space Station
‘These actions focus public attention on climate change and raise its political salience, but whether they will transform policies, investments, and behaviors remains among the most important questions facing global society.’
The spread of misinformation is also listed, which the board notes is a major issue in the US.
This, according to the board, includes a large portion of Congress and the public denying Joe Biden legitimately won the presidential election.
Misinformation about the coronavirus is also spreading like wildfire worldwide, which is ‘crippling the ability of public health authorities and medical science to achieve higher vaccination rates,’ reads the statement.
Sharon Squassoni, co-chair of the Science and Security Board (SASB), Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, said: ‘One hundred seconds to midnight reflects the Board’s judgment that we are stuck in a perilous moment—one that brings neither stability nor security. Positive developments in 2021 failed to counteract negative, long-term trends.’
Finally, tensions over military space activity have increased in the past few years.
One of the biggest threats was Russia’s anti-missile satellite test in November that created a debris cloud that orbited dangerously close to the International Space Station.
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