The doomsday clock is now as close to Armageddon as it has ever been

The doomsday clock, measuring the world’s proximity to total destruction by human action, is closer to Armageddon than ever before.

Created 76 years ago in 1947 to warn humanity of the dangers of nuclear war, it has now stayed at 100 seconds to midnight for two years, the closest it has ever been to the end of the world.

The position of the clock hands at or away from midnight is determined by the existential threat assessments made by a group of scientists from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.

According to experts, when the clock reaches 12 (midnight), it means the end of the world.

The maintenance of the watch is overseen by a committee of international relations specialists and scientists specializing in nuclear weapons, climate change and disease.

Rachel Bronson, President of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, explained why the clock of the catastrophe is getting closer.

“February 2022, weeks after ours [last] The announcement confirmed our fears,” Bronson said.

“Russia’s thinly veiled threats to use nuclear weapons are a reminder to the world that an escalation of the conflict by accident, design or misjudgment poses a terrible risk.”

“The likelihood that the conflict could spiral out of control remains high.”

The committee has now set the clock to 90 seconds to midnight.

Bronson explained that the reason the clock was advancing 10 seconds was primarily due to the increasing dangers posed by the conflict in Ukraine, although other factors were also considered.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has created significant tensions between Russia and NATO.

The annual report of the doomsday clock mentions other dangers such as climate change, biological risks and disruptive technologies.

The report highlights that the effects of the war go beyond increasing the threat of nuclear weapons, as it also undermines global initiatives to combat climate change.

Countries that previously relied on Russian oil and gas are now looking to alternative sources. The report emphasizes the need for world leaders to recognize and manage biological risks, whether they are natural, accidental or deliberate.

The board pointed out that pandemics are no longer considered a rare occurrence.

In 2020, the hands of the doomsday clock were moved 100 seconds closer to midnight, and they stayed the same in 2021 and 2022.

The clock hands were furthest from midnight at 17 minutes at the end of the Cold War. Bronson emphasized that human action is a major contributor to global problems, but that working together can help reduce the risks involved.