Doomsday Clock

The Doomsday Clock, maintained by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, is a symbolic representation of the likelihood of a human-made global catastrophe. Established in 1947 during the Cold War, it uses the metaphor of 'midnight' to represent global annihilation. The Clock is newsworthy because it was recently set to 85 seconds to midnight, the closest it has ever been. This adjustment reflects growing concerns about multiple interconnected threats facing humanity. Recent events contributing to this setting include ongoing wars, the increasing aggression of nuclear powers, weakening arms control agreements, the escalating climate crisis, the proliferation of disinformation, and emerging risks associated with disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence. The Clock's current setting underscores the urgent need for global cooperation and action to mitigate these threats and ensure the survival of humanity.