Doomsday Clock Maintains 100 Seconds to Midnight for 3 Consecutive Years

American Nuclear Scientists Association (BAS)

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The Doomsday Clock, symbolizing the crisis facing humanity, has remained at 100 seconds to midnight for the third consecutive year.

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (BAS), which manages the Doomsday Clock, revealed this year's clock indicating 100 seconds to midnight during an online announcement on the 20th (local time). BAS sets midnight as the time of Earth's destruction and annually announces the clock time by comprehensively considering nuclear threats, climate change crises, and other factors.

Rachel Bronson, president of BAS, warned at a press conference that "the maintenance of 100 seconds to midnight this year is due to ongoing and threatening factors such as nuclear weapons, climate change, disruptive technologies, and COVID-19," adding, "The Doomsday Clock continues to run dangerously."

The Doomsday Clock started at 7 minutes to midnight in 1947. It moved to 2 minutes to midnight in 1953 during the competitive nuclear tests between the United States and the Soviet Union, then was set back to 17 minutes to midnight in 1991 following the signing of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty between the US and the USSR, with adjustments made annually.

In 2019, the clock pointed to 2 minutes to midnight, but in 2020, due to the suspension of various nuclear disarmament agreements and unresolved political conflicts related to Iran and North Korea's nuclear programs, it entered the seconds range for the first time. In 2021, the clock remained at 100 seconds to midnight for the second consecutive year, citing the COVID-19 pandemic.