Facing unprecedented risks, the BAS emphasizes the urgent need for international cooperation to avert disaster.
**Doomsday Clock Strikes 89 Seconds to Midnight: A Dire Warning for Humanity**
**Doomsday Clock Strikes 89 Seconds to Midnight: A Dire Warning for Humanity**
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists updates the Doomsday Clock, citing global threats that challenge human existence.
In a striking announcement, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (BAS) has adjusted the iconic Doomsday Clock by moving it one second forward to 89 seconds to midnight—the closest it has ever been to signaling global catastrophe. This adjustment was driven by an array of escalating threats, including nuclear risks, advancements in biotechnology and artificial intelligence, and the looming impacts of climate change.
Daniel Holz, who chairs the BAS's Science and Security Board, emphasized that the hands of the clock moving even a single second closer to midnight serve as a grave warning to global leaders about the precarious state of human security. The Doomsday Clock, which was first set in 1947 at seven minutes to midnight, remained unchanged at 90 seconds in the prior year.
The Chicago-based BAS succinctly articulated their message: “In setting the clock one second closer to midnight, we send a stark signal.” They emphasized that this minor adjustment is indicative of serious and immediate danger, urging immediate action to reverse the trajectory toward potential disaster.
The organization's statement highlighted the ongoing war in Ukraine, nearing its third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion, warning that the conflict could escalate to a nuclear disaster due to misjudgments or accidental incidents. Additionally, they pointed to rising tensions in the Middle East, suggesting that conflict there could unexpectedly spiral into a broader war.
From a climate perspective, the BAS expressed concern over the long-term efforts to mitigate global warming, blaming a lack of decisive action from governments worldwide. They also alerted the global community to the risk posed by emerging and re-emerging diseases, which threaten economic stability and societal security.
The report noted the dangers posed by burgeoning disruptive technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, highlighting their implementation in military operations in Ukraine and the Middle East. The BAS underscored the impact of misinformation and disinformation as a dangerous multiplier of these threats, blurring lines between reality and falsehood.
The Bulletin concluded that the United States, China, and Russia bear the primary responsibility for steering humanity away from the impending doom suggested by the Doomsday Clock, emphasizing their collective capability to avert civilization's destruction.
Daniel Holz, who chairs the BAS's Science and Security Board, emphasized that the hands of the clock moving even a single second closer to midnight serve as a grave warning to global leaders about the precarious state of human security. The Doomsday Clock, which was first set in 1947 at seven minutes to midnight, remained unchanged at 90 seconds in the prior year.
The Chicago-based BAS succinctly articulated their message: “In setting the clock one second closer to midnight, we send a stark signal.” They emphasized that this minor adjustment is indicative of serious and immediate danger, urging immediate action to reverse the trajectory toward potential disaster.
The organization's statement highlighted the ongoing war in Ukraine, nearing its third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion, warning that the conflict could escalate to a nuclear disaster due to misjudgments or accidental incidents. Additionally, they pointed to rising tensions in the Middle East, suggesting that conflict there could unexpectedly spiral into a broader war.
From a climate perspective, the BAS expressed concern over the long-term efforts to mitigate global warming, blaming a lack of decisive action from governments worldwide. They also alerted the global community to the risk posed by emerging and re-emerging diseases, which threaten economic stability and societal security.
The report noted the dangers posed by burgeoning disruptive technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, highlighting their implementation in military operations in Ukraine and the Middle East. The BAS underscored the impact of misinformation and disinformation as a dangerous multiplier of these threats, blurring lines between reality and falsehood.
The Bulletin concluded that the United States, China, and Russia bear the primary responsibility for steering humanity away from the impending doom suggested by the Doomsday Clock, emphasizing their collective capability to avert civilization's destruction.
