What Is Doomsday Clock And Who Controls It?

While the Doomsday Clock measures threats to humanity, it is largely considered as a symbolic wake-up call for decision makers

Humanity has come up with some really innovative ideas, one of which is the Doomsday Clock. Considering that most people are worried or fascinated by the idea of doomsday, the Doomsday Clock has managed to get widespread publicity and attention. For better understanding, let us take a look at what is Doomsday Clock and who controls it.

What is Doomsday Clock?

The Doomsday Clock is a symbolic representation of the existential threat being faced by humanity at any given point of time. It is quite like the presentation of a ticking time bomb, as shown in movies or written in books. The Doomsday Clock, essentially a metaphor, was created in 1947 by J. Robert Oppenheimer, Albert Einstein and Eugene Rabinowitch. It has been maintained since then by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.

How Doomsday Clock works?

The Doomsday clock measures how close humanity is to a global catastrophe. Such events may arise due to various reasons such as a major technology emerging, climate change, nuclear war, etc. Doomsday Clock works quite like a standard clock. In the Doomsday Clock, the midnight represents the moment when humanity will face an existential threat. The original setting of the Doomsday Clock was 7 minutes to midnight. With significant uncertainties across the globe, the Doomsday Clock has reached 89 seconds to midnight in January 2025. This is the lowest it has ever gotten.

The Doomsday Clock can also move away from the midnight point. This will signify a period of peace, with little risk of existential threats. For example, the Doomsday Clock was 17 minutes to midnight in 1991. This was the farthest ever to midnight. Since 1947, the Doomsday Clock has moved forward 18 times and backwards 8 times.

Who controls the Doomsday Clock?

The time on the Doomsday Clock is set by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists’ Science and Security Board. This team comprises various experts including policy experts, scientists and former government officials. Existing and emerging global threats are analyzed in great detail, based on which a decision is made to move the clock backwards or forward. The Doomsday Clock is usually adjusted once every year in January. The timing on the Doomsday Clock can change depending on various threats such as nuclear threats, terror activities, weapons development, rise of AI, etc.

Should you be worried about Doomsday Clock reaching 89 seconds to midnight?

With the Doomsday Clock reaching its lowest ever to 89, it certainly calls for world leaders to introspect and think about global good. However, there does not seem to be any real existential threats for humanity. But it is important to note that the Doomsday Clock does not cover natural disasters like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, comet / asteroid strikes, a new virus, etc. The Doomsday Clock covers only human-made threats, something that limits its reach and scope.