The function of a clock is mainly to determine the time, but just imagine a clock that informs about the upcoming dangers globally, which tries to tell that destruction is about to come to the universe, which warns you again and again that the universe is about to be destroyed. Only 90 seconds are left, you will be surprised to think how this can be possible.
Yes, scientists have such a clock which is informed by Global Virtues, which warns that the universe is going to be destroyed, the name of that clock is Doomsday. Let us first know the history of the Doomsday Clock.
Doomsday Clock
The Doomsday Clock is a symbolic representation of the likelihood of a global catastrophe, especially related to nuclear weapons and other existential threats. It is maintained by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, a nonprofit organization that focuses on global security issues. The clock is a metaphorical clock face that uses the analogy of midnight representing a global catastrophe.
Here are some key points about the Doomsday Clock:
- Origin: The Doomsday Clock was first introduced in 1947 by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, founded by scientists who had worked on the Manhattan Project. It was initially created to represent the threat of nuclear annihilation.
- Symbolism: The clock is set close to midnight, where midnight represents the hypothetical global catastrophe. As the clock hands move closer to midnight, it signifies an increased risk of a major disaster.
- Factors Considered: The Doomsday Clock is not based on precise scientific calculations but rather on the subjective judgment of a panel of experts. Factors taken into consideration include nuclear threats, climate change, emerging technologies, and geopolitical tensions.
- Adjustments: The clock is adjusted periodically based on global events and the assessment of the Bulletin’s Science and Security Board. The adjustments are announced during press conferences.
- Time Adjustments: The clock has been adjusted 24 times since its inception. The furthest it has been from midnight was 17 minutes in 1991, following the end of the Cold War. The closest it has been was 100 seconds to midnight in 2020.
- Recent Adjustments (as of my last knowledge update in January 2022): In 2020, the Doomsday Clock was set at 100 seconds to midnight, the closest it had ever been. The Bulletin cited concerns about nuclear weapons, climate change, and emerging technologies as reasons for the adjustment.
What is News?
The Doomsday Clock, which shows how close the world is to a big disaster, will stay at 90 seconds to midnight. Scientists decided not to move it closer, but they have reasons for keeping it very close to “Doomsday.”
The threat of a new nuclear arms race, the war in Ukraine, and worries about climate change are all reasons, according to the scientists. They decide where to set the clock every year, and this year they kept it at 90 seconds to midnight.
Since 2007, scientists have been thinking about not only the risk of nuclear war but also new dangers like artificial intelligence (AI) and climate change. In their announcement for 2024, they mentioned that China, Russia, and the US are spending a lot of money to make their nuclear weapons stronger, and this increases the danger of a nuclear war happening by mistake.
The war in Ukraine also makes the risk of a nuclear war higher, they said. They are worried that not enough is being done to address climate change, and there are risks with using new biological technologies and AI tools.
In simple terms, the Doomsday Clock staying at 90 seconds to midnight means that there are serious concerns about nuclear weapons, war, and other dangers that could lead to a global catastrophe.
The Doomsday Clock was made in 1947 by J. Robert Oppenheimer and other US scientists who built the atomic bomb. They saw how bad it was when the bomb was used in 1945 on Japanese cities. The scientists wanted to warn people and push leaders to stop using nuclear weapons.
The clock’s hands moved 25 times. In 1947, they started at seven minutes to midnight. When the Cold War ended in 1991, they went back to 17 minutes to midnight.
Rachel Bronson, the president of the Bulletin, said to the BBC that every big country, including the UK, is spending a lot on their nuclear weapons. They act like these weapons can be used for a long time. This is a dangerous time, and leaders are not being responsible.
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