Who sets the Doomsday Clock?
10 days ago
- #Existential Risk
- #Doomsday Clock
- #Nuclear Threat
- The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists announced the Doomsday Clock is now set at 85 seconds to midnight, the closest it has ever been.
- The 2025 Nobel Laureate Assembly for the Prevention of Nuclear War convened to address rising nuclear threats, AI in warfare, and global instability.
- The Doomsday Clock, created in 1947, symbolizes humanity's proximity to self-annihilation, influenced by nuclear weapons, climate change, and disruptive technologies.
- Daniel Holz, a theoretical astrophysicist, chairs the Bulletin’s Science and Security Board and emphasizes the urgency of existential threats.
- The clock-setting process involves rigorous analysis by experts, balancing diverse perspectives on nuclear security, climate change, and emerging risks.
- Critics question the clock’s precision, but its purpose is to warn and mobilize action rather than predict exact outcomes.
- The board grapples with defining 'midnight,' debating whether it represents societal collapse, extinction, or irreversible catastrophe.
- Human behavior, political decisions, and technological advancements remain unpredictable variables in global risk assessment.
- Despite grim scenarios, experts advocate for solutions like treaties, sustainable energy, and AI regulation to mitigate existential threats.
- The Doomsday Clock serves as both a symbol of peril and a call to action, urging collective responsibility to avert disaster.