Doomsday clock is ticking towards midnight, say scientists

Times Online ^ | Jan. 15, 2007 | David Byers

[Schnucki]

The End of the World is closer than at any time since the Cold War, a group of scientists is set to declare this week.

The keepers of a symbolic Doomsday Clock - a world-famous symbol designed by the US-based Bulletin of Atomic Scientists to chart how close we are to Armaggedon - have announced they are moving its hands forward.

According to the University of Chicago-based organisation, worsening climate change and the increasing threat of nuclear war are threatening our survival. The clock's hands will be moved forward next Wednesday.

The clock, which has appeared on the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists magazine's front cover since 1947, is currently set at seven minutes to midnight - with midnight marking global catastrophe.

In a news release previewing next Wednesday's event, which will be co-hosted by the British physicist Stephen Hawking, the organisation would not say exactly how far the clock would be moved forward - but explained that a change was necessary because of "worsening nuclear, climate threats" to the world.

"The major new step reflects growing concerns about a 'Second Nuclear Age' marked by grave threats, including: nuclear ambitions in Iran and North Korea, unsecured nuclear materials in Russia and elsewhere, the continuing 'launch-ready' status of 2,000 of the 25,000 nuclear weapons held by the US and Russia; escalating terrorism; and new pressure from climate change for expanded civilian nuclear power that could increase proliferation risks," it said.

The clock was last pushed forward by two minutes to seven minutes to midnight in 2002, amid concerns about the proliferation of nuclear, biological and other weapons and the threat of terrorism in the aftermath the attacks on September 11, 2001.

The last time it was closer than that to midnight was in 1988, when the Cold War was beginning to show its first signs of coming to an end and the clock showed 11.54pm.

With the time set to be put forward again, it is inevitable that it will be at a closer point to midnight than at any time since that year - and perhaps closer.

When it was created by the magazine's staff in 1947, it was initially set at seven minutes to midnight and has moved 17 times since then.

It was as close as two minutes to midnight in 1953 following U.S. and Soviet hydrogen bomb tests - and as far away as 17 minutes to midnight in 1991 in a wave of optimism as the Soviet Communist regime collapsed and the superpowers reached agreement on a nuclear arms reductions.

[kinoxi]

The End of the World is closer than at any time since the Cold War, a group of scientists is set to declare this week.

In theory I'm a theorist.

[Long Island Pete]

Who set the clock? Glenn Beck?

[neodad]

The End of the World is closer than at any time since the Cold War

And I feel fine.

[Puppage]

"The major new step reflects growing concerns about a 'Second Nuclear Age' marked by grave threats, including: nuclear ambitions in Iran and North Korea, unsecured nuclear materials in Russia and elsewhere, the continuing 'launch-ready' status of 2,000 of the 25,000 nuclear weapons held by the US and Russia; escalating terrorism; and new pressure from climate change for expanded civilian nuclear power that could increase proliferation risks," it said.

But, do these threats meet the democRATS Global Test????

[Red Badger]

...and when it does, Jesus will set the new clock to "forever"........

[Vaquero]

Armaggedon tired....time to switch hands.....

[Wolfie]

Relax, the World will be fine.

[brivette]

LOL! Good song.

[william clark]

It takes scientists to conclude this? Hmmm...

Okay, I announce that July 2008 AD is closer than it has ever been at any time in history.

Can I have a huge grant now?

[APFel]

I've always wondered what sort of people would maintain such a project.

I'll bet they are really fun at parties.

APf

[rhombus]

According to the University of Chicago-based organisation, worsening climate change and the increasing threat of nuclear war are threatening our survival. The clock's hands will be moved forward next Wednesday

In that order? Funny how they have to acknowledge "climate change" (formerly global warming) to get liberals to pay any attention to them. I do believe the world is closer to a nuclear exchange... every minute we continue to fool ourselves with the diplomacy placebo being used against Iran. Who will be President when it happens?

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

Bulletin of Atomic Scientists = communist hand-wringers

[thinking]

Let us get a case of beer, and go down and watch it tick...

[BenLurkin]

July 2008...I can take early retirement!

[Hornet19]

I'd believe a Vegas bookie's odds more than I'd put stock in what this 'group' has to say.

The group's logo must be a picture of "Joe Blitzfypk".

[Doc Savage]

Oh No! Not Doomsday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[LIConFem]

Not me. I'm a theoretical empiricist.

Theoretically, anyway...

[edpc]

After a quick check of the D C times, I noticed the clock was at its closest points to midnight under Republican presidents and furthest from midnight under Dems. We had the Cuban missile crisis and many open conflicts worldwide in the 1960s and the closest it got to midnight was seven minutes til. Reagan upgrades the military in the 80s and they push it to 3 minutes til in '84. Come on.......how transparent.

[tcostell]

I guess the only way we can avoid certain disaster, is to open our borders, raise the minimum wage to $700 per hour, redeploy our military to South Dakota, raise the taxes on the rich to 99%, and provide free education and medical care to everyone on the planet.

Then it will all be OK.