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 during the Cold War, it uses the metaphor of 'midnight' to represent global annihilation. The clock is newsworthy because it was recently moved to 85 seconds to midnight, the closest it has ever been. This adjustment reflects growing concerns about multiple interconnected threats. Recent developments cited by the Bulletin include ongoing wars, particularly aggression from nuclear powers, weakened arms control agreements, the escalating climate crisis, the disruptive potential of artificial intelligence, and the rise of autocracy. The clock's current position underscores the urgency of addressing these global challenges and highlights the perceived increased risk to humanity's survival.