The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has moved its iconic Doomsday Clock to 85 seconds to midnight, marking its closest point to catastrophe since its inception nearly eight decades ago. This drastic shift is a dire warning from scientists that humanity has not made sufficient progress on existential risks such as nuclear weapons, climate change, and disruptive technologies.
The clock's president and CEO, Alexandra Bell, emphasized the urgent need for collective action, stating that "every second counts, and we are running out of time." The risks have grown exponentially, with major countries becoming increasingly aggressive, adversarial, and nationalistic over the past year. This has led to a critical situation where no one is preventing a potential nuclear arms race.
The impending expiration of a 2010 strategic arms treaty between the US and Russia next week has raised concerns about a possible runaway nuclear arms race, which could have catastrophic consequences. On climate change, scientists warn that atmospheric carbon dioxide and global sea levels are at record highs, with droughts, fires, floods, and storms intensifying and becoming more erratic.
The Bulletin also warns of an escalating arms race surrounding artificial intelligence, which poses dire consequences. The group's chair, Daniel Holz, notes that AI is accelerating misinformation, making it even more challenging to address other threats. Furthermore, the rise of nationalistic autocracies increases the likelihood of conflict and loss for all.
Historical data shows that when governments become unaccountable to their citizens, conflict and misery follow. The Bulletin's aim is to promote actionable ideas to reduce existential threats, but it seems like time is running out for humanity to take drastic action.
The clock has been moved more than two dozen times in its nearly eight-decade history, with the closest point to midnight being 17 minutes in 1991 following the end of the Cold War. The 2020s started with the clock at 100 seconds to midnight, largely due to cyber-enabled information warfare compounding threats from nuclear war and climate change.
The Bulletin's warning serves as a stark reminder that humanity is at a critical juncture. It has failed to take decisive action against the existential risks facing it. The clock's ticking closer to midnight sends a chilling message: if we don't act now, the consequences could be catastrophic.
The clock's president and CEO, Alexandra Bell, emphasized the urgent need for collective action, stating that "every second counts, and we are running out of time." The risks have grown exponentially, with major countries becoming increasingly aggressive, adversarial, and nationalistic over the past year. This has led to a critical situation where no one is preventing a potential nuclear arms race.
The impending expiration of a 2010 strategic arms treaty between the US and Russia next week has raised concerns about a possible runaway nuclear arms race, which could have catastrophic consequences. On climate change, scientists warn that atmospheric carbon dioxide and global sea levels are at record highs, with droughts, fires, floods, and storms intensifying and becoming more erratic.
The Bulletin also warns of an escalating arms race surrounding artificial intelligence, which poses dire consequences. The group's chair, Daniel Holz, notes that AI is accelerating misinformation, making it even more challenging to address other threats. Furthermore, the rise of nationalistic autocracies increases the likelihood of conflict and loss for all.
Historical data shows that when governments become unaccountable to their citizens, conflict and misery follow. The Bulletin's aim is to promote actionable ideas to reduce existential threats, but it seems like time is running out for humanity to take drastic action.
The clock has been moved more than two dozen times in its nearly eight-decade history, with the closest point to midnight being 17 minutes in 1991 following the end of the Cold War. The 2020s started with the clock at 100 seconds to midnight, largely due to cyber-enabled information warfare compounding threats from nuclear war and climate change.
The Bulletin's warning serves as a stark reminder that humanity is at a critical juncture. It has failed to take decisive action against the existential risks facing it. The clock's ticking closer to midnight sends a chilling message: if we don't act now, the consequences could be catastrophic.
is like, super close!!! i dont think humans can handle this level of stress rn 
what if its actually the end 
but we gotta try, right? 
alexandra bell is soooo right, every second counts and we need to work together or else its game over 
climate change and nukes are like, super bad news 
i just wanna cry rn 
can we pls just make a plan already?! 
... i mean i know scientists are warning us but it feels like no one's listening 
... and the AI thing too, i dont even understand how that affects us, is it like robots gonna take over or something? 
and now the clock is ticking closer to midnight i don't even wanna think about what could happen next 
I mean, isn't that kinda the opposite of what we need right now? 
And at the same time, those scientists are saying that AI is making misinformation way worse, so shouldn't we be worried about getting our info straight before trying to fix anything? 
It's all just really confusing and I don't know what to think anymore...
The Bulletin's warning is spot on, we need to take drastic action before it's too late! 
Every second counts indeed... let's make a change before the clock strikes midnight 
. Climate change, nuclear war, AI... these aren't just distant problems, they're happening right now 
. I know it's hard to agree on things when everyone's got their own interests at stake, but we can't afford to wait for politicians to make up their minds 
. It's time to put aside our differences and focus on the real threats facing us 
.
. It's time for us to hold our leaders accountable and demand change 
. If we don't, the consequences will be catastrophic 
.
. What's next, are we gonna start hiding under our desks waiting for the world to end? 
Maybe it's time to focus on finding ways to live with these challenges instead of just trying to eliminate them. 
We know the risks and we're not taking any concrete steps to address them. Climate change is getting worse, nuclear arms are on the rise, and AI is just exacerbating all this by spreading misinformation left and right 
I'm getting this sinking feeling in my chest reading about this Doomsday Clock being moved so close to midnight. It feels like we're staring into the abyss and can't look away. I've seen a lot of changes over the years, but some things remain the same - humans still struggling with their own self-interests 
. It's not about blaming anyone or any government, it's just about us recognizing our mistakes and trying to do better. Climate change, nuclear arms, AI... these are issues that require immediate attention. We can't keep saying "oh, it'll get sorted out later". Later might be too late 
. I just wish we could see beyond the politics and ideologies and focus on what's truly important - our collective future 
The clock might be tickin', but it's not like we're gonna see a sudden, collective 'aha!' moment that makes everyone wanna join forces to save the world. 
! Climate change 
and come up with solutions 
️. Can't let nationalistic vibes 
tear us apart 
to make a change 
!