If there were a thermometer of human survival, it would be reading the highest fever ever recorded right now. Doomsday Clock, which has been monitoring the existential risks for humanity since the post-war period, has just taken another step towards the symbolic midnight of global catastrophe, marking a worrying all-time record.
One second closer to the abyss
It strikes me deeply to see how a single second can have such an important weight. Doomsday Clock took a further step forward, going from 90 to 89 seconds to midnight. As the Daniel Holz, chairman of the scientific and safety committee, “when you are on the edge of a precipice, the last thing you want to do is take a step forward.”
The announcement arrived during a press conference at theUnited States Institute of Peace of Washington, where members of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists they explained the reasons for this historic decision. The situation has never been so critical since the clock was established in 1947.
Converging Threats
What I find particularly alarming is the convergence of multiple threats. It is no longer a single risk, but a series of interconnected challenges that amplify each other. It is as if the “traps” that threaten our species were closing simultaneously.
I climate changes are intensifying, the proliferation of nuclear army continues, instability in the Middle East persists, the risk of new pandemic remains high, and the integration of theartificial intelligence in military operations opens up worrying scenarios. There's nothing missing, right?
Doomsday Clock, the historical evolution
It is interesting to note how the clock has changed its format over time to adapt to the acceleration of global challenges. After the end of the Cold War, the hands had moved away up to 17 minutes from midnight. In recent years, however, the situation has changed dramatically, so much so that the group had to switch from counting minutes to counting seconds.
The new position of the hands reflects a reality in which threats overlap and feed each other. As highlighted Wood, “There's this growing sense that… some nation might end up using nuclear weapons, and that's terrifying.”
A signal to world leaders
The message of Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists But it is not pure pessimism. Scientists point out that the clock could be turned back if leaders and nations worked together to address existential risks.
This possibility of a reversal of the trend is fundamental. We are not facing an inescapable fate, but a series of challenges that require international cooperation, responsible leadership and concrete actions.
Doomsday Clock, Hope in the Time That Remains
Despite the gravity of the situation, the final message of the French Newsletter contains an element of hope. The 89 seconds that separate us from the symbolic midnight They are a call to action, not a definitive condemnation.
Humanity's ability to face seemingly insurmountable challenges has been demonstrated time and again throughout history. The key is to recognize the urgency of the moment and act accordingly, before it's too late.