seconds till midnight

Doomsday Clock 2026, Jan 27th 85 seconds to midnight Closest to catastrophe since the Clock was created World with high existential risks, intended to motivate action Midnight is civilization-ending disaster, existential risks. Panel of experts sets it once a year Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists’ Science and Security Board https://thebulletin.org/about-us/science-and-security-board/ https://thebulletin.org/doomsday-clock/timeline/ Origins 1947, scientists concerned about nuclear weapons after World War II Many had worked on Manhattan. Set at 7 minutes to midnight, to express urgency of nuclear danger. Late October 1962 Purpose To warn the public and policymakers, threat of human-made global catastrophe. Forward and back 27 times Best time, 1991, end of the Cold War. 2025, risk from technologies and international discord 2026, Jan 27th 85 seconds to midnight Combination of Global Risks Nuclear Weapons and Warfare The original and still core risk Expansion, modernization, and poor arms control, miscalculation, accident, sabotage, madness or conflict. Interview with Alfred Werner, Liberal Judaism, no. 16 (April–May 1949), Einstein Archive 30-1104 https://wist.info/einstein-albert/25402/ “I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.” Conventional War Limitations of one resource, water, food, land Civil war Mass murder and genocide Climate Change Severe climate disruption Rising temperatures, extreme weather, and slow policy responses, cascading impacts. Climate manipulation, stratospheric spraying Disruptive Technologies Artificial intelligence, misinformation, information warfare, cyber instability, or autonomous weapons. “colossal opportunities and threats that are difficult to predict now.” “the one who becomes the leader in this sphere will be the ruler of the world.” “it would be strongly undesirable if someone wins a monopolist position” “when one party’s drones are destroyed by drones of another, it will have no other choice but to surrender.” Russian President Vladimir Putin (2017) Undersea cable destruction Deepfakes Biological Threats & Biosecurity Engineered pathogens, pandemics, gaps in biodefense systems are concerns in recent assessments. James Bond level villains Arrogant philanthropists Reducing sperm counts Chemical accidents and attacks Geopolitical Tensions & Governance Breakdown in international cooperation, rising nationalism, rising antinationalism, loss of the nation state, international ‘elites’ Maleficent international organisations. Population reduction advocates Financial manipulation Mass migration Control and Manipulation of Global Food Supply Misinformation and scaremongering Monoculture of plants and animals Environmental sabotage and soil degradation Economic land domination / imperialism The clock can be pushed back Reduce risk of nuclear war Stop climate manipulation Plant more trees, localise food production. Egalitarian food production Egalitarian access to therapeutics Stronger oversight of gain-of-function and dual-use research Clear international rules on biological research Transparency instead of secrecy during outbreaks Control high risk technologies Keep humans in the loop Science / evidence-based policymaking Change most national and world leaders Revelation 6, The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse Conquest, War, Famine, and Death. White Horse Bow and a crown, he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest. Military conquest. Pestilence. Fiery red Horse Rider was given power to take peace from the earth and to make people kill each other. To him was given a large sword. Violent bloodshed. Black Horse Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. High food prices. Food control and famine. Pale Horse It’s rider was named Death, and H Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices