On January 28, 2025, scientists updated the well-known Doomsday Clock, which is drawing closer and swiftly to midnight.
A non-profit organization created this clock in 1947, during the tensions of the Cold War that followed World War II, to warn everyone when humanity is about to end the entire world.
The scientists responsible for updating the "Doomsday Clock" each year have set it to 89 seconds to midnight, which would be the theoretical point at which the annihilation of society would occur.
What Reasons Have Moved the Doomsday Clock Forward?
According to the bulletin shared by scientists, among the reasons that have moved the Doomsday Clock forward are: Russia's invasion of Ukraine, increased tensions in other parts of the world, climate change, and the use of artificial intelligence in the military field.
"The factors that influenced this year's decision (the nuclear risk, climate change, the potential misuse of advances in biological science, and a variety of other emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence) were not new in 2024," detailed the president of the Bulletin's Science and Security Board, Daniel Holz.
And he added: “But we have seen insufficient progress in addressing key challenges, and in many cases, this is leading to increasingly negative and concerning effects.”
The organization stated that United States, China, and Russia have the power to save humanity from possible annihilation thanks to their strength and influence, as the doomsday clock has not yet reached a point of no return.