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Science & Technology

Doomsday Clock is still seconds from midnight

By T.K. Randall
January 28, 2021 · Comment icon 8 comments

The clock is updated every twelve months. Image Credit: The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
The latest update to the symbolic clock shows that there hasn't been much improvement over the last 12 months.
Maintained by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists since 1947, the Doomsday Clock is a visual representation of how close the world is to disaster based on political, environmental and technological threats such as nuclear annihilation and climate change.

When it was last updated twelve months ago, the hands were changed to a mere 100 seconds to midnight - the closest it has been to disaster since the 1950s.

This year, officials have chosen to keep the clock's position the same on the basis that the "world's vulnerability to catastrophe" hasn't really changed that much in the interim.

The scientists cited an increase in online disinformation, political instability in the US, concerns over the control of nuclear weapons and a lack of progress on climate change as major factors.
"The pandemic revealed just how unprepared and unwilling countries and the international system are to handle global emergencies properly," the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists said in a statement.

There was however positivity surrounding Joe Biden's move to rejoin the Paris Climate Agreement.

"The election of a US president who acknowledges climate change as a profound threat and supports international cooperation and science-based policy puts the world on a better footing to address global problems," the Bulletin stated.

"In the context of a post-pandemic return to relative stability, more such demonstrations of renewed interest in and respect for science and multilateral cooperation could create the basis for a safer and saner world."



Source: The Guardian | Comments (8)




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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #1 Posted by XenoFish 3 years ago
Did they take into consideration daylight saving time?
Comment icon #2 Posted by OpenMindedSceptic 3 years ago
It's got to be the worst clock in the world, it's never right.
Comment icon #3 Posted by MysteryMike 3 years ago
What a pile of bogus. Nothing more but a politicity stunt and meanings to get attention. Whatever happens happens. Could be today, could be tomorrow, the next day, next week, month, next year. We don't think when things could ever happen.
Comment icon #4 Posted by Wreck7 3 years ago
It needs to move to about 30 seconds till doomsday. Simply because the most powerful nation on earth has had a senile old puppet installed as its so called leader. It's only a matter of time before he misplaces the nuclear codes or just hits the wrong button. The world knows this.
Comment icon #5 Posted by Seti42 3 years ago
I'm very glad science is respected in the White House again. That was a rough 4 years of willful ignorance.
Comment icon #6 Posted by Nuclear Wessel 3 years ago
False--it's correct once a day. 23:58:20
Comment icon #7 Posted by qxcontinuum 3 years ago
Actually I'd move the hands back a lot. Many good things have happened in this world, last year. First we've stopped poisoning with pollutants and carbon, our planet. For the first time this century, dolphins were spotted swimming in the French canal. We stopped going to work and learnt to work from home. I saw health an safety being prioritised against the money making business by closing their businesses. Real estate rentals have dropped with 20% and so is services.  The governments have provided aid, money and support. In Canada numerous ministries and directors have been fired for br... [More]
Comment icon #8 Posted by Jon the frog 3 years ago
Crossing fingers that the Biden will not reach the end of the oil tycoon leash and choke himself up...  


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