The Doomsday Clock is a symbolic representation of how close humanity is to a global catastrophe.
Originally created by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists in 1947, the clock has been adjusted several times over the years, with the current time being 100 seconds to midnight.
The clock was first set at 7 minutes to midnight, reflecting the devastation of World War II and the dawn of the atomic age.
In 1949, the clock was moved to 3 minutes to midnight due to the increasing threat of nuclear war.
In 1953, the clock reached its closest point to midnight at 2 minutes due to the United States and the Soviet Union testing hydrogen bombs.
The clock has fluctuated over the years, with the furthest distance from midnight being 17 minutes in 1991 following the end of the Cold War.
In 2020, the clock was set to 100 seconds to midnight, the closest it has ever been, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and global political leadership failures to address these existential threats.
In January 2023, the Doomsday Clock moved the time from 100 seconds to midnight to 90 seconds to midnight.
The clock serves as a reminder that the actions of individuals, governments, and organizations can have a significant impact on the fate of humanity.
Climate change, nuclear weapons and cyber threats are the main reason for Doomsday clock movement.
The clock is not a prediction, but a warning, and serves as a call to action for individuals, organizations, and governments to take immediate and decisive action to address these global threats.
It is up to us to take responsibility and make the necessary changes to push the Doomsday Clock further away from midnight, before it's too late.