Wednesday, June 25, 2008

The Doomsday Clock


I must have been living under a rock, because I just recently learned about the Doomsday Clock.

The Doomsday Clock's time perpetually lingers just shy of midnight, which metaphorically represents full nuclear war bringing an end to all citilization. It is meant to be a gauge to indicate humankind's proximity to this catastrophic event.

The clock is at the University of Chicago, and members of the Board of Directors of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists are the custodians. When it was introduced in 1947, it was set for seven minutes to midnight. Since that time, the closest it has been is two minutes to midnight, in 1953; the farthest it has been is 17 minutes to midnight. In 1991.

When I learned about the clock, I thought, Wonder what time is it now? So I e-mailed one of the board members and put the question to him. He told me it was advanced by two minutes on January 17, 2007. So that means it is now five minutes to midnight on the Doomsday Clock.

Just thought you would want to know.

2 comments:

kari and kijsa said...

Wow-this is interesting! hope it doesn't get any closer!!

blessings,
kari & kijsa

SandraRee said...

I followed the link you provided and was floored. I knew about the clock, but never thought to check it out. And it's just not about nuclear war bringing an end to all of civilization. Mentioned is the damage to our ecosystems. How will this affect my grandson's children, and their children? This makes me sad.

All words and pictures © 2008 Brenda G. Wooley