The Doomsday Clock: A Warning for Humankind
A Symbol of Global Catastrophe
The Doomsday Clock is a symbolic representation of the likelihood of a human-made global catastrophe. It was created by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists in 1947, two years after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The clock has been updated every year since then, and the current time is 100 seconds to midnight.
The Board of Sponsors
The clock is set by the Bulletins Science and Security Board in consultation with its Board of Sponsors. The Board of Sponsors includes nine Nobel laureates, including former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev.
Interpretation of the Clock
The closer the clock is to midnight, the greater the risk of global catastrophe. The 100-second to midnight setting represents the current state of global affairs, which includes nuclear weapons, climate change, and other threats to human civilization.
A Wake-Up Call
The Doomsday Clock is a wake-up call for humanity. It reminds us of the urgent need to address the threats that face our planet. The clock is a warning that we must take action now to avoid a global catastrophe.