Scientists set Doomsday Clock closer to midnight

Scientists have set the so-called Doomsday Clock closer to midnight, highlighting what they perceive to be heightened dangers and increased probability of global disaster. The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists announced Tuesday they have moved the minute hand on their clock to 89 seconds to midnight. The clock had been at 90 seconds to midnight for the past two years. "We set the clock closer to midnight because we do not see sufficient progress, positive progress on the global challenges we face, including nuclear risk, climate change, biological threats, and advances in disruptive technologies," said Daniel Holz, chair of the Science and Security Board of the organization of scientists. Starting in 1947, the advocacy group used a clock to symbolize the potential and even likelihood of people doing something to end humanity. After the end of the Cold War, it was as close as 17 minutes to midnight. In the past few years, to address rapid global changes, the group has changed from counting down the minutes until midnight to counting down the seconds.