Decoded: The mystery of the Doomsday Clock
Since the inception of civilisation, humans have been haunted by the fear of destruction. The apocalypse could be the result of natural disasters like climate change or other factors like nuclear weapons or biological warfare. The apprehension of doomsday only increased with time, so much so that, a metaphorical clock was created in 1947 to measure how close humanity is to self-destruction. We are talking about Doomsday Clock. Wait, how does it work? Come, let’s find out together.
The origin of Doomsday Clock
In 1939, Albert Einstein and Leo Szilard, renowned scientists, wrote the US president, Franklin Roosevelt, to warn him of the dangers of an atomic bomb. As a result, the Manhattan Project, a collaboration among industry, government and science, came into being. The team also started taking active efforts to safeguard nuclear technology in the future! In 1945, scientists from the Manhattan Project founded a non-profit organisation called the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists in Chicago. Their united goal was ‘to eliminate risks to human existence by giving the information necessary to the public, decision-makers and scientists’. Later, in 1947, they hired a famous landscape artist Martyl Langsdorf to create a symbol for their new organisation. Langsdorf eventually came up with the concept of the Doomsday clock. She designed the clock to emphasise the urgency of their crisis and her belief that responsible individuals will avoid disaster by uniting and acting. In a nutshell,
Who sets the Doomsday Clock?
The Doomsday clock is located at the entrance of the Keller Centre, University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy. But who adjusts the countdown? Today, the Bulletin’s Science and Security Board sets the time. This group of 18 professionals meets twice a year to discuss current affairs, policies and trends. The group’s expertise ranges widely from policy and diplomacy to military history and nuclear technology. In addition, they have extensive discussions with their peers from various disciplines. Following such discussions, the clock is adjusted in January every year.
What is more important is what the Bulletin has to say at this point? First, the Bulletin lists three primary risks to civilization: nuclear proliferation, climate change and disruptive technologies, such as biotechnology and cybersecurity. According to the Bulletin, ‘each of these human threats can destroy civilization and make the Earth largely inhabitable’.
When the Doomsday Clock strikes midnight
Will the world come to an end if it strikes midnight? Bulletin members have repeatedly stated that the clock is not to scare people but to motivate them to act. Prof. Robert Rosner, a board member, refers to the clock as ‘the canary in the coal mine’. This is because the clock signals the need to act quickly to protect humanity. Daniel Holz is a professor of astronomy and astrophysics at the University of Chicago and a representative on the Science and Security Board. He states that ‘If we take action now, we might be able to prevent some of the worst, civilization-threatening events’.
As of 24th January 2023, the clock is at 90 seconds until midnight, which is the nearest it has ever been to a worldwide disaster. Scary? But rather than being scared, it is essential for us to work together to find a solution. Working towards improvement is more crucial than ever!