Every year, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (BAS) get together to update what they call the "Doomsday Clock." It's designed to warn the public about how close the world is to destroying itself with dangerous technologies of its own making. It is a metaphor, a reminder of the perils leaders must address if we are to survive on the planet.
It was created in 1947. At that point, the greatest danger to humanity came from nuclear weapons — in particular, the United States's and the Soviet Union's nuclear arms race. The BAS considered possible catastrophic disruptions from climate change in its hand-setting deliberations for the first time in 2007.
The closer to 'midnight' on the clock, the closer the world is to an apocolypse
The Bulletin's Science and Security Board meets twice a year to discuss world events and reset the clock as necessary.
The board is made up of scientists and other experts with deep knowledge of nuclear technology and climate science, who often provide expert advice to governments and international agencies. They consult widely with their colleagues across a range of disciplines and also seek the views of the Bulletin's Board of Sponsors, which includes 13 Nobel Laureates.
The farthest from midnight the clock's hands have ever been was 17 minutes to midnight, back in 1991. But since 2018, the clock has been at 2 minutes to midnight, which previously had not happened since 1959.
For more information on the Doomsday Clock or the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, click here.
This year's announcement can be seen below:
This story was originally published by WFTS in Tampa, Florida.
