The Doomsday Clock moves closer than ever to the dreadful midnight

Every time the world faces an unprecedented global crisis, be it because of a worldwide pandemic, climate change or the Russia and Ukraine war, we the humans brace ourselves for we realise that we are moving one step closer to the day of apocalypse, or what is better deemed as the doomsday.  

In fact, it is better demonstrated on the Doomsday Clock that has been maintained since 1947 by the members of a Chicago-based NGO called Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. It is involved in scientific and global security issues resulting from accelerating technological improvements that have far-reached negative impacts on humanity. It is a metaphor, a symbol that represents the chances of a man-made global catastrophe.  

Now, for those unaware, every year in January, this clock is updated as per the opinions of the atomic scientists. It shows how far (minutes or seconds) the clock’s hand or the world is from striking midnight or the ultimate doomsday. Sounds ominous, isn’t it?  

Well, what we are about to tell you next will sound even more sinister. Recently, the Doomsday Clock has been declared as closer to midnight than ever before, being only 90 seconds to it, 10 seconds closer to what it had been for the last three years.  

Experts cite that this has been done with regards to threats from various sources such as nuclear war, infectious disease outbreaks, disinformation online and climate crisis – all being at their all-time highs, triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.  

By now you may have understood that the clock’s hand moves closer or farther from midnight, based on scientists’ analysis and calculation of existential threats for humanity during a particular time period. Here, midnight marks the theoretical point of extinction of mankind and destruction of the world. Turns out, this time, it was Russia’s occupation of Ukraine that has revived the fears of a global nuclear war, with the former constantly threatening to use nuclear and bio weapons by intention, accident or simple miscalculation; putting humanity at greatest risk ever. What’s worse is, unlike before, it seems that the chances of this happening and spinning out of control is now at an all-time high.  

Sources also cite that for the first time ever, the bulletin’s declaration will be translated from English to Russian and Ukrainian to attract better attention.  

In case you didn’t know, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists comprises of experts in nuclear technology, disease control and climate science, including 13 Nobel laureates. They meet twice every year, once to discuss world affairs and determine where to place the hands of the clock. The next time they meet they turn their decisions into action and then inform the world.  

Last time resetting of the Doomsday Clock had made quite a stir was when it was set at 100 seconds to midnight in 2020.  

Interestingly, Albert Einstein was one of the scientists who was involved during the development of this metaphorical clock. Back then, it was set at seven minutes to midnight. However, it was in 1991 that the clock was farthest from the doomsday at 17 minutes to midnight when the Cold War had just ended.