Humanity continues to move closer to catastrophe, scientists said Tuesday, Jan. 27.
The human race is at its closest point yet to destroying itself, according to the reset of the ominous but symbolic "Doomsday Clock." The metaphorical clock now stands at 85 seconds to midnight after advancing four seconds since last year's reset.
The clock is now the closest to midnight since its introduction in 1947. It is updated each year by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, which organizes the assessment of how close we are to a self-inflicted end of humanity.
Citing a worldwide "failure of leadership, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Science and Security Board set the Doomsday Clock at 85 seconds to midnight, the closest it has ever been to catastrophe," the Bulletin said in a statement.
"The Doomsday Clock’s message cannot be clearer," Alexandra Bell, president and CEO, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, said. "Catastrophic risks are on the rise, cooperation is on the decline, and we are running out of time. Change is both necessary and possible, but the global community must demand swift action from their leaders."
