89 seconds to the end of the world: Doomsday Clock reset again due to war in Ukraine

29 January 05:19

Nuclear scientists have set the Doomsday Clock to 89 seconds before nuclear midnight (apocalypse). This is closer than ever to the catastrophe. This was reported by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, an organization that deals with scientific and global security issues, Komersant ukrainskyi reports

“In 2024, humanity came close to disaster. The trends that have deeply troubled the Science and Security Council continue, and despite the obvious signs of danger, national leaders and their societies have not taken the necessary steps to change course. Therefore, we have moved the Doomsday Clock from 90 seconds to 89 seconds to midnight, the shortest time to disaster ever recorded,” the statement said.

Nuclear scientists hope that leaders will realize the threats to the world and take measures to reduce the dangers posed by nuclear weapons, climate change and the misuse of new technologies.

Nuclear risks

Regarding nuclear risk, they noted that the war in Ukraine, now in its third year, could escalate into a nuclear war at any time due to mistakes or rash decisions. The conflict in the Middle East threatens to spiral out of control into a large-scale war without warning.

Nuclear-armed countries are increasing the size and role of their arsenals, investing hundreds of billions of dollars in weapons that can destroy civilization. The process of nuclear arms control is collapsing, and high-level contacts between the nuclear weapon states are completely inadequate in view of the existing danger.

Worryingly, it is no longer unusual for non-nuclear-weapon states to consider building their own arsenals, actions that would undermine longstanding non-proliferation efforts and increase the potential for nuclear war.

The impact of climate change

Last year, the impact of climate change became even more pronounced as many key indicators, including sea level rise and global surface temperatures, reached new records. Greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, and so does the scale of catastrophic events: floods, tropical cyclones, heat waves, droughts and forest fires.

These events affect all continents, leaving no country behind. The long-term prognosis for the world’s attempts to cope with climate change remains poor, as most governments are unable to take the financial and political initiatives necessary to stop global warming.

Although the use of solar and wind energy is increasing, it is not enough to stabilize the climate. Moreover, in many countries, including the United States, climate issues remain a low priority in the political arena.

Biological threats: pandemics and new challenges

Climate change also has biological consequences. The spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) among farm animals, food, and even humans poses the risk of a devastating pandemic.

High-security biolaboratories are being built around the world, but a lack of proper oversight increases the likelihood of leaking pathogens with pandemic potential.

The rapid development of artificial intelligence has increased the risk that terrorists or countries will be able to develop biological weapons against which there are no countermeasures.

Military technologies and new risks

Last year, the development of revolutionary technologies, including the integration of artificial intelligence into military systems, made the world even more dangerous. Such systems are already in use in Ukraine and the Middle East, and several countries are actively working to integrate artificial intelligence into their military.

This raises troubling questions about the extent to which machines will be allowed to make military decisions, including the use of nuclear weapons.

Tensions between the great powers also extend to space, where China and Russia are developing anti-satellite capabilities. Reports of Russia testing a satellite with a dummy warhead have raised concerns about the possible deployment of nuclear weapons in orbit.

Information ecosystem: a threat to the truth

Disinformation, conspiracy theories, and information manipulation are making it harder to respond to global threats. Artificial intelligence makes it easier to spread false information that undermines trust in scientific and democratic institutions.

In some countries, the authorities use propaganda to undermine elections, and corruption of the information ecosystem fosters the rise of leaders who disregard science and human rights. This situation makes it impossible to have the constructive discussions necessary to solve global problems.

The United States, China and Russia can destroy civilization

The United States, China and Russia have a collective power that can either save civilization or destroy it. Despite significant disagreements, these countries should begin a constructive dialogue on global threats. Only joint efforts will allow us to avoid catastrophe and ensure sustainable development for future generations. The world depends on immediate action, and each of these countries is responsible for averting a global catastrophe.

“By moving the Clock one second closer to midnight, we are sending a clear message: since the world is already in danger, a shift of even one second should be taken as a signal of extreme danger and an undeniable warning that every delay in changing course increases the likelihood of global catastrophe,” the scientists said.

What is the Doomsday Clock?

The Doomsday Clock project has been run by the American journal Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists since 1947.

The clock shows the symbolic time that separates humanity from the day of a global man-made catastrophe (time to midnight).

The decision to change the hands is made by the journal’s board of directors and experts, including 18 Nobel Prize winners.

The clock is kept in Chicago.

Since 1947, the Doomsday Clock has been reset 25 times, including after the USSR tested an atomic bomb in 1949, after the collapse of the socialist system in 1990, the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, and so on.

on January 24, 2023, the so-called Doomsday Clock was moved forward by 10 seconds: the hand stopped 90 seconds from midnight, which means “a time of unprecedented danger” for humanity, in particular because of the war in Ukraine.

Дзвенислава Карплюк
Editor