The symbolic clock was set at 90 seconds to midnight, largely due to the war in Ukraine.
The Doomsday Clock, an initiative that aims to alert humanity to the greatest dangers that exist, is even closer to midnight, which would leave the world close to catastrophe.
The clock shows 90 seconds to midnight.
The non-profit Bulletin of Atomic Scientists (BAS), which manages the weather, said the change was made largely because of the war in Ukraine.
The idea of the clock began in 1947 to warn humanity about the dangers of nuclear war.
Clock hands move towards or away from midnight based on scientists’ reading of existential threats at any given moment. Midnight marks the theoretical point where humanity would go extinct.
The decision is made by the BAS Science and Safety Council, which includes 13 Nobel Prize winners. This year the ad was available in Ukrainian and Russian as well as English due to the war in Ukraine.
The council said the war has raised profound questions about how nations interact and has shown an apparent decay in international conduct.
“Russia’s thinly veiled threats to use nuclear weapons are a reminder to the world that escalating conflict – whether by accident, intention or miscalculation – is a dire risk,” the statement said.
In this year’s newsletter they also mention climate change, biological threats and disruptive technologies.
“The effects of war are not limited to just an increase in nuclear danger; they also undermine global efforts to combat climate change,” the statement said.
Countries dependent on Russian oil and gas have already looked to other natural gas suppliers.
The council says world leaders will need to continue to identify biohazards, whether natural, accidental or intentional, as the world continues to suffer from the fallout from Covid.
A pandemic, the council says, is no longer a rare risk.
In 2020, the clock hands moved closer to midnight by 100 seconds. In the following years, in 2021 and 2022, the clock hands remained in the same place.
The hands of the clock have never been further off than ever since the end of the Cold War, at 17 minutes to midnight.
Rachel Bronson, CEO of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, said that while humans create the threats that can lead to extinction, humans themselves can reduce the risks by engaging in solutions.
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Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
