What is the Doomsday Clock?
Quick Answer
The Doomsday Clock is a symbolic clock set by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists to show how close humanity is to a global catastrophe, with midnight representing disaster.
The Full Story
The Doomsday Clock was created in 1947 by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, a group founded by scientists who had worked on the Manhattan Project. Artist Martyl Langsdorf designed the image, originally set at seven minutes to midnight. The Bulletin's Science and Security Board resets it, usually each January, considering threats such as nuclear weapons, climate change and disruptive technologies. It was furthest from midnight in 1991, at 17 minutes, after the Cold War ended. In January 2025, it was set to 89 seconds to midnight, the closest in its history at that time.
Key Facts
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Suggested video title for this topic:
"The clock that has never struck midnight — and who decides where its hands go."