Clock Ticks Closer to Midnight: Global Threats Loom Large

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has moved the Doomsday Clock closer to midnight than ever before, setting it at 89 seconds till midnight. This annual announcement indicates that humanity is closer to destruction due to various threats like climate change, nuclear weapon proliferation, and pandemics. The clock has been at 90 seconds for the past two years, and experts warn that we shouldn't take a step further towards the brink.Concerns about countries like North Korea, Russia, and China developing nuclear programs have escalated. Russia's President Vladimir Putin has even mentioned using nuclear weapons in the Ukraine conflict, which raises alarms globally. "The rhetoric is very disturbing, " said Daniel Holz, chair of the group's science and security board. "There's a growing fear that a nation might use nuclear weapons, which is terrifying. " The Doomsday Clock, started in 1947, symbolizes the potential end of humanity. After the Cold War, it was the closest to midnight at 17 minutes. In recent years, the group switched from counting minutes to seconds to reflect rapid global changes. Experts suggest that turning back the clock is possible if leaders worldwide collaborate to tackle existential risks.