The Doomsday Clock is now officially six minutes away from midnight after scientists turned the clock back one minute on Thursday in New York. Midnight on the Doomsday Clock represents "catastrophic destruction", so a reprieve was given today with scientists from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (BAS) citing a more "hopeful state of world affairs" in relation to the twin threats posed by nuclear weapons and climate change.
The Doomsday Clock has been at five minutes to midnight since 2007 and it was not known which direction the BAS would move the hands of the clock until Thursday, January 14 which it was officially moved to six minutes until midnight.
BAS announced the Clock change today at a news conference in New York City broadcast live at http://www.turnbacktheclock.org/ for viewing around the globe.
In a statement supporting the decision to move the minute hand of the Doomsday Clock, the BAS Board said: "This hopeful state of world affairs leads the boards of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists -- which include 19 Nobel laureates -- to move the minute hand of the Doomsday Clock back from five to six minutes to midnight. By shifting the hand back from midnight by only one additional minute, we emphasize how much needs to be accomplished, while at the same time recognizing signs of collaboration among the United States, Russia, the European Union, India, China, Brazil, and others on nuclear security and on climate stabilization."
Created in 1947 by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, the Doomsday Clock has been adjusted only 18 times prior to today, most recently in January 2007 and February 2002 after the events of 9/11. By moving the hand of the Clock away from midnight -- the figurative end of civilization -- the BAS Board of Directors is drawing attention to encouraging signs of progress.
Read more about The Doomsday Clock here.
Written by Cheryl Phillips
HULIQ.com
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