The Doomsday Clock that tracks humanity's threat to survival was moved 20 seconds closer to midnight - its closest point in its 73-year existence.
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, which formed after the creation of the atomic bomb during World War II, moved the clock Thursday from two minutes to midnight to 100 seconds to midnight.
“Today the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists moves the hands of the Doomsday Clock. It is 100 Seconds to Midnight,” — @RachelBronson1, President & CEO, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists#DoomsdayClock pic.twitter.com/bxlf9TvEZu
— Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (@BulletinAtomic) January 23, 2020
The group decided to make the advance because of nuclear and climate dangers that are compounded by cyberthreats.
“We are now expressing how close the world is to catastrophe in seconds — not hours, or even minutes,” Rachel Bronson, president and CEO of the group, said in a statement. “We now face a true emergency — an absolutely unacceptable state of world affairs that has eliminated any margin for error or further delay.”
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— Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (@BulletinAtomic) January 23, 2020
“We need political leaders to care and to engage multilaterally,” — @RachelBronson1, President & CEO, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists#DoomsdayClock https://t.co/caTZGzMFTR pic.twitter.com/qzIQyQO9uB
The clock last moved in 2018 when it advanced 30 seconds from 2 1/2 minutes to midnight to two minutes to midnight.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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