The Doomsday Clock, a symbolic representation of humanity’s proximity to catastrophic destruction, has been advanced by one second to 89 seconds to midnight, marking the closest it has ever been to midnight.
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, the organisation responsible for setting the clock’s time, introduced it in 1947 to assess the likelihood of annihilation from various threats.
For the past two years, the clock had remained at 90 seconds, but due to escalating concerns such as nuclear threats, Middle Eastern conflicts, and climate change, it has been moved forward by one second. Daniel Holz, chair of the Bulletin’s Science and Security Board, described the latest adjustment as “a warning to all world leaders”.
In a statement released on Tuesday (January 28), the Chicago-based non-profit organisation, BAS, stated: “In setting the clock one second closer to midnight, we send a stark signal.
“Because the world is already perilously close to the precipice, a move of even a single second should be taken as an indication of extreme danger and an unmistakable warning that every second of delay in reversing course increases the probability of global disaster.”
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine, nearing its three-year mark, “could become nuclear at any moment because of a rash decision or through accident or miscalculation”, according to the statement, which also cautioned that Middle Eastern conflicts “threaten to spiral out of control into a wider war without warning”.
The Doomsday Clock, a symbolic representation of global catastrophe risk, was initially set at seven minutes to midnight back in 1947. In 2018, scientists adjusted the clock to two minutes before midnight due to rising global tensions, and it has been inching closer ever since.
While some are understandably concerned by this development, there are those who criticise the clock as merely a scare tactic for the public. On the r/climate forum, one individual expressed their disdain, writing: “I really hate the doomsday clock. It feels like just a fear tactic for the public. We all know things are sh***y and we all know the powers that be are screwing it all for the rest of us. There’s no need to instil more fear on top of that.”
Another person was dismissive of its significance, writing: “It’s total bulls**t, it’s not based on anything measurable and the start at 7min before midnight was just a random guess. Extremely stupid and unhelpful.”
A third contributor suggested an alternative approach, saying: “It was 420 seconds to midnight during the Cuban Missile Crisis – near universally recognised as less than 24 hours away from blowing the whole world up. So for it to be 89 seconds today – it’s losing its meaning. Perhaps we need multiple clocks to measure multiple threats to society today so we can focus and not just suffer fear-paralysis.”
Scepticism wasn’t confined to forums; TikTok users also weighed in, as one commenter said: “They just want you to be afraid at all times.” Another questioned the clock’s credibility, asking: “Who actually believes this? “.
Meanwhile, a third user made light of the situation with humour, saying: “Can’t trust that clock. 3/4 of it is missing. Must of got it from Temu.”
Despite the concerns raised, some voices in the debate offered a counter-narrative. One individual highlighted the expertise of those involved, commenting: “Everyone in the comments doesn’t understand that these are scientists. They look at nearly every aspect of the world and civilisation we live in and analyse changes.”
Echoing this sentiment, another person lamented the dismissive attitude prevalent among many respondents, saying: “People not listening and just cracking jokes reminds me so much of the movie Don’t Look Up. They never listen until it’s too late.”