What is the Doomsday Clock and why is it only 90 seconds before the Apocalypse?

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists advances its symbolic doomsday clock in 2022 by 90 seconds to midnight, assessing how close we are to Apocalypse.

This year, the Bulletin of the Council on Science and Safety of Atomic Scientists lends a hand doomsday clocklargely (though not exclusively) because of the growing danger of war in Ukraine. The clock is now one and a half minutes after midnight, the closest to a global catastrophe. In recent years, it has been reduced to 100 seconds.

Why is the doomsday clock ticking?

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists is an academic publication for the general public on issues related to the survival and development of mankind in the face of the threats of nuclear weapons, weapons of mass destruction, climate change, new technologies and diseases.

Published bimonthly, it was first published in 1945 as “Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists of Chicago‘, founded by members of the Manhattan Project after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

A 2023 report notes that Russia’s war against Ukraine has raised “profound questions” about how states are interacting to undermine the norms of international behavior that underlie successful responses to various global risks.

“And worst of all, Russia’s thinly veiled threats to use nuclear weapons remind the world that an escalation of the conflict – by accident, intent or miscalculation – is a terrible risk. The possibility of a conflict spiraling out of control remains unclear.” “, he concluded in his statement.

The war has reached the sites of the Chernobyl and Zaporozhye nuclear reactors, violating international protocols and risking a massive release of radioactive materials. So far, efforts by the International Atomic Energy Agency to protect these plants have been rebuffed.

As Russia’s war against Ukraine continues, the latest nuclear weapons treaty between Russia and the United States, New START, is under threat. Unless both sides resume negotiations and find a basis for further cuts, the deal will expire in February 2026. report.

The effects of war are not limited to the increased nuclear danger; they also undermine global efforts to combat climate change. Countries dependent on Russian oil and gas have sought to diversify their supplies and suppliers, which has led to increased investment in natural gas just when that investment should have been cut.

Against the backdrop of a hot war and a backdrop of nuclear threats, the report argues that “the ongoing flow of disinformation about biological weapons laboratories in Ukraine raises concerns that Russia itself is considering deploying such weapons, which many experts believe are still being developed. “

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has increased the risk of nuclear weapons, exacerbated the specter of the use of biological and chemical weapons, hampered the global response to climate change, and hampered international efforts to address other global issues. The invasion and annexation of Ukrainian territory also violated international norms in a way that could spur others into actions that challenge previous agreements and threaten stability.

How to solve it?

To overcome this conflict, the report argues, the United States must at least keep the door open for principled engagement with Moscow that will reduce the dangerous rise in nuclear risks caused by the war.

“One element of risk mitigation could be sustained high-level contact between the US and Russian military to reduce the chance of miscalculation. The US government, its NATO allies and Ukraine have several channels of dialogue, all of which must be explored. Finding a path to serious peace talks can go a long way in reducing the risk of escalation. In this time of unprecedented global danger, concerted action is required, and every second counts,” the report emphasizes. (Europe Press)

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