Three Doomsday Signs Based on Science

VIVA – Life on Earth is in danger of doomsday due to several factors. For the past three years, the doomsday clock has been set at 100 seconds before midnight. But, with Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the climate crisis, and other actions that threaten the lives of humanity, the world is officially getting closer to what the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists calls a 'global catastrophe'.

Some time ago the Doomsday Clock reached its closest position to midnight. The clock is a symbol created by the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists in 1947 to explain how human actions cause problems that can have mass consequences.

"We are living in a time of unprecedented danger and the timing of the Doomsday Clock reflects that reality. 90 seconds to midnight is the closest the clock has ever been set to midnight, and it's a decision our experts didn't take lightly," Bulletin President and CEO, Rachel Bronson said.

1. The Ukraine War

The reason for 10-second movement toward the apocalypse is largely due to the war in Ukraine that has been going on for almost a year. In a statement, the Bulletin explained that the war has 'raised profound questions' about how nations interact, as well as a real fallout in international behavior.

The war has far-reaching implications, impacting global crops, gas supplies, and rampant risks to nuclear reactor sites. according to the CBS News website, Thursday, February 9, 2023.

"And worst of all, Russia's veiled threats to use nuclear weapons remind the world that conflict escalation is a dire risk," the scientists explained.

The threat of nuclear war is also a factor that brings the world closer to midnight, as is the climate crisis, the need to address which is increasingly urgent.

Recent months have revealed record-high carbon dioxide emissions due to worsening weather extremes and the cascading effects of crop failure, disease, and weakened infrastructure.

Biological threats such as Covid-19 and disinformation are also listed as factors in changing the Doomsday clock. Former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson says that the final step on the clock is to sound the alarm for all of humanity.

"We are on the brink. But our leaders are not acting with sufficient speed or scale to secure a peaceful and habitable planet. The science is clear, but the political will is lacking. This must change by 2023 if we are to avert disaster. We are facing multiple existential crises. Leaders need a crisis mindset," Mary Robinson explained.

While the Bulletin uses clocks to warn the world of danger, the group says concretely that they do not predict the future. Instead, the clock is a kind of analysis of international events, trends, and public and official efforts to mitigate the damage to humanity.

"A bulletin is like a doctor making a diagnosis. We look at the data, like a doctor looks at lab tests and X-rays, and also consider factors that are harder to calculate like a doctor does when talking to patients and family members," the group said.