With the ‘Doomsday Clock’ set unwaveringly at 90 seconds to midnight, concerns are mounting about an imminent ‘global catastrophe’.
The scientists behind the announcement highlight a critical point: there is a possibility of resetting this symbolic clock. However, achieving this reversal depends on the urgency of rapid and decisive action by both governments and individuals.
The continued approach to midnight emphasizes the immediate need to address pressing global challenges, including the climate crisis and the dangers associated with artificial intelligence.
This article delves into the severity of the situation, explores the interconnected risks and highlights the need for united and rapid responses to secure the future.
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- What is the doomsday clock?
- When was the doomsday clock updated?
- Where is the Doomsday Clock?
What is the doomsday clock?
The Doomsday Clock, devised by the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, symbolically measures the perceived risk of global catastrophe.
Metaphorically aligned with midnight, its hands indicate the proximity of a hypothetical end of the world.
Adjusted for factors such as nuclear weapons, climate change and emerging technologies, the closer it gets to midnight, the greater the perceived threat to humanity.
When was the doomsday clock updated?
Today, the Bulletin’s Science and Security Board once again establishes the #DoomsdayClock It’s 90 seconds until midnight. Humanity continues to face an unprecedented level of danger. Read the full statement: https://t.co/PowB7RkzXw pic.twitter.com/aRyF2ZX3wB
— Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (@BulletinAtomic) January 23, 2024
On Tuesday, the Doomsday Clock remained unchanged at 90 seconds to midnight, echoing the alarming level of risk seen last year, denoting a “continued and unprecedented level of risk.”
This assessment coincides with experts who declare that humanity is currently facing its greatest danger. In their announcement, the scientists emphasized the potential to reset the clock, depending on urgent action by governments and individuals.
The Doomsday Clock serves as a symbolic indicator of man-made global catastrophes, indicating the world’s proximity to possible demise. Originated in 1947, it was conceived by a group of atomic scientists, including Albert Einstein.
Where is the Doomsday Clock?
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, a Chicago-based nonprofit organization, annually updates the Doomsday Clock, which reflects catastrophic risks to the planet and humanity.
In their latest assessment, they highlighted new threats, including the war between Russia and Ukraine, the breakdown of nuclear arms reduction agreements, the climate crisis exacerbated by the record temperatures of 2023, advances in genetic engineering and the rapid progress of Generative AI.
Doomsday Clock Once Again Set at 90 Seconds to Midnight by Science and Security Bulletin Board | Image: X
These global challenges were said to cast ominous shadows over deliberations to set the Clock at 2024, posing substantial risks for the future of the world.
Rachel Bronson, PhD, president and CEO of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, emphasized that resetting the Doomsday Clock to 90 seconds to midnight does not indicate global stability; rather, she underscores the urgency for governments and communities around the world to take immediate action.
Despite the critical situation, Bronson expressed hope and inspiration, particularly as he sees younger generations taking the lead in addressing these pressing issues.
Bill Nye, a participant in the 2024 Doomsday Clock announcement, delivered a stark message: “For decades, scientists have been warning us about the dangers facing humanity. We could face catastrophe unless we better manage technologies.” that we have created. It is time to act.
The organization characterizes the Doomsday Clock as a “metaphor for how close humanity is to self-annihilation,” framing the annual reset as a “call to action to reverse the hands.”
A representative image of Doomsday Clock generated with AI | Image: Binge
A panel of scientists and professionals, including 13 Nobel Laureates, annually evaluates world events and determines the proper position of the clock’s hands.
In 2023, the Doomsday Clock was positioned 90 seconds from midnight, marking its closest proximity to the ominous midnight.
The Bulletin’s decision considered several serious factors, including the war between Russia and Ukraine, biological threats, the proliferation of nuclear weapons, the ongoing climate crisis, state-sponsored disinformation campaigns, and the disruptive influence of emerging technologies.
This alarming scenario underscored the organization’s deep concerns about the interconnected and growing threats to global stability and the future of humanity.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn