The one who is called “End of the world clock' or 'Apocalypse Clock', select again 90 seconds to midnight. In 2024 the hands of this symbolic clock they do not change compared to 2023due to the “hideous trends the world continues to highlight.” a disaster global,” according to scientists from the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists at the University of Chicago.
What sounds so alarming is based on a symbolic tool developed by scientists to warn of threats to the planet and humanity, and it shows, through the image of the apocalypse (midnight) and contemporary language, how close humanity is to it The end of the world is the nuclear explosion (countdown to zero).
The body responsible for deciding how long this apocalypse would last is the Bulletin's Science and Security Council, in consultation with its sponsoring council includes nine Nobel Prize winners.
As was the case a year ago, this team of experts found that there are 90 seconds left until midnight, based on catastrophes such as the war in Ukraine and the widespread and growing reliance on nuclear weapons, which these scientists believe increase the risk of nuclear escalation.
“China, Russia and the United States are spending enormous sums to expand or modernize their nuclear arsenals, increasing the ever-present threat of nuclear war due to mistakes or miscalculations.” highlighted in the annual report The experts.
They also warn of other possible nuclear crises. “Iran continues to enrich uranium until it is almost weaponizeds, while hampering the International Atomic Energy Agency on key issues. Efforts to restore a nuclear deal with Iran appear unlikely North Korea continues to build nuclear weapons and long-range missiles. “The nuclear expansion in Pakistan and India continues without pause or slowdown.”
Nor do they overlook the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, which “could escalate into a broader conflict in the Middle East that could pose unpredictable threats regionally and globally.”
More natural disasters
On the other hand, they point to global warming and its effects as another factor that undoubtedly endangers humanity. They recall that in 2023, Earth experienced its hottest year on record and “millions of people around the world were affected.” affected by massive floods and forest fires and other climate-related disasters.
They also add that “worrying” advances in life sciences and other disruptive technologies have accelerated while “governments are making weak efforts to control them.”
“Deep concern about the decline of the world”
For these reasons, members of the Science and Security Council say they are “deeply concerned about the decline of the world” and have once again set the “doomsday clock” to 90 seconds to midnight – the closest ever to global catastrophe. never been. In 2022 this clock was 100 minutes to midnight, in 2019 it was two minutes.
“Our decision should not be seen as a sign that the international security situation has eased. On the contrary, leaders and citizens around the world should take this statement as a clear warning and respond urgently as if it came out today.” the most dangerous moment in modern history. Because it could be so,” says the report from the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists at the University of Chicago.