Doomsday Clock At 90 Seconds To Midnight In 2024 Due To Climate Crisis And Russia-Ukraine War
The 'Doomsday Clock' stays fixed at 90 seconds to midnight, reflecting concerns of an impending 'global catastrophe.'
With the 'Doomsday Clock' unwaveringly set at 90 seconds to midnight, concerns escalate about an imminent 'global catastrophe.'
The scientists behind the announcement stress a critical point ¨C there is a potential to reset this symbolic clock. Nevertheless, achieving this reversal depends on the urgency of prompt and determined measures from both governments and individuals.
The constant closeness to midnight emphasizes the immediate need to address urgent global challenges, including the climate crisis and the perils associated with artificial intelligence.
This article delves into the seriousness of the situation, exploring the interconnected risks and stressing the necessity for united and swift responses to secure the future.
What Is The Doomsday Clock?
The Doomsday Clock, devised by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, symbolically gauges the perceived risk of a global catastrophe.
Metaphorically aligned with midnight, its hands indicate the proximity to a hypothetical doomsday.
Adjusted based on factors like nuclear weapons, climate change, and emerging technologies, the closer it gets to midnight, the higher the perceived threat to humanity.
When Did The Doomsday Clock Get Updated?
Today, the Bulletin¡¯s Science and Security Board once again sets the #DoomsdayClock at 90 seconds to midnight.
¡ª Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (@BulletinAtomic) January 23, 2024
Humanity continues to face an unprecedented level of danger.
Read the full statement: https://t.co/PowB7RkzXw pic.twitter.com/aRyF2ZX3wB
On Tuesday, the Doomsday Clock remained unchanged at 90 seconds to midnight, echoing the alarming risk level seen last year, denoting a "continuing and unprecedented level of risk."
This evaluation coincides with experts declaring that humanity currently faces its gravest peril. In their announcement, scientists emphasized the potential to reset the clock, contingent on urgent actions by governments and individuals.
The Doomsday Clock serves as a symbolic gauge of human-made global catastrophes, indicating the world's proximity to potential demise. Originating in 1947, it was conceived by a group of atomic scientists, including Albert Einstein.
Where is the Doomsday Clock?
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, a non-profit organization based in Chicago, annually updates the Doomsday Clock, reflecting catastrophic risks to the planet and humanity.
In their latest assessment, they highlighted new threats, including the Russia-Ukraine war, the breakdown of nuclear arms reduction agreements, the Climate Crisis exacerbated by 2023's record-breaking temperatures, advancements in genetic engineering, and the rapid progress of generative AI.
Doomsday Clock once again set to 90 seconds to midnight by Bulletin's Science and Security Board | Image: X
These global challenges were cited as casting ominous shadows over the deliberations for the 2024 Clock setting, posing substantial risks to the world's future.
Rachel Bronson, PhD, the President and CEO of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, emphasized that resetting the Doomsday Clock at 90 seconds to midnight does not signal global stability; rather, it underscores the urgency for immediate action by governments and communities worldwide.
Despite the critical situation, Bronson expressed hope and inspiration, particularly witnessing younger generations taking the lead in addressing these pressing issues.
Bill Nye, a participant in the 2024 Doomsday Clock announcement, delivered a stark message, stating, "For decades, scientists have been warning us of the dangers facing humankind. We could be facing catastrophe unless we better manage the technologies we've created. It's time to act."
The organization characterizes the Doomsday Clock as a "metaphor for how close humanity is to self-annihilation," framing the annual resetting as a "call-to-action to reverse the hands."
A representative image of Doomsday Clock generated using AI | Image: Binge
A panel of scientists and professionals, including 13 Nobel Laureates, assesses global events annually, determining the appropriate positioning of the clock's hands.
In 2023, the Doomsday Clock was positioned at 90 seconds to midnight, marking its closest proximity ever to the ominous midnight hour.
The decision by the Bulletin considered several grave factors, including the Russia-Ukraine war, bio-threats, the proliferation of nuclear weapons, the ongoing climate crisis, state-sponsored disinformation campaigns, and the disruptive influence of emerging technologies.
This alarming setting underscored the organization's profound concerns about the interconnected and escalating threats to global stability and humanity's future.
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