“Atomic Scientists” adjusted on Tuesday (28) the “Judgment Clock” to the nearest midnight than at any other time. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists adjusted the clock to 89 seconds before midnight-the theoretical point of annihilation.
This is a second closer to what was defined last year. The non -profit organization based in Chicago created the clock in 1947 during the Cold War tensions after World War II to alert people about the proximity of the destruction of the world by humanity.
They justified this year’s change due to threats on Russia’s nuclear weapons amid the invasion of Ukraine, tensions in other critical points around the world, military intelligence applications and climate change, factors that would increase the risks of global catastrophe.
“The factors that shape this year’s decision – nuclear risk, climate change, the possible misuse of advances in biological science and a variety of other emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence – were not new in 2024,” said Daniel Holz, president of the Bulletin Science and Security Council.
“But we have seen insufficient progress in approaching the main challenges and, in many cases, this is leading to increasingly negative and worrying effects,” he warned.
“The definition of the final judgment clock in 89 seconds for midnight is a warning to all world leaders,” added Holz.
Ukraine War and Nuclear Threat
Quoted by the expert, the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022 began the most bloody conflict in Europe since World War II, for example.
“War in Ukraine continues to present itself as a great source of nuclear risk. This conflict can intensify and include nuclear weapons at any time due to a hasty decision or accident and calculation error, ”said Holz.
In November, Russian President Vladimir Putin changed the guidelines for a nuclear attack in response to a larger number of conventional attacks.
The measure was classified by Kremlin as a sign for the West amid a war in which Ukraine received weapons provided by the United States and its allies.
Russia’s updated doctrine established conditions under which Putin could order an attack using the world’s largest nuclear arsenal.
Russia said in October that it will not discuss the signing of another deal with the United States to replace the new strategic weapon reduction treaty, because Moscow believes it needs to be expanded and expanded to cover other countries.
The understanding limits the strategic nuclear weapons that each country has, but expires in 2026.
“Russian aggression in Ukraine, including repeated use of nuclear threats since the beginning of the war, has been worrying. In addition, Russia’s recent setback regarding important weapon control treaties is an alarming sign of increased nuclear risk, ”said Holz.
Conflicts in the Middle East and Taiwan worry scientists
The Middle East and Instabilities in the region with the Israel War in the Gaza Strip and other regional hostilities are also critical points today.
“We are watching carefully and we hope the ceasefire in Gaza will be maintained. Tensions in the Middle East, including Iran, are still dangerously unstable, ”warned Holz.
“There are other possible hot points around the world, including Taiwan and North Korea, and any of them can become a conflagration involving nuclear powers, with unpredictable and potentially devastating results,” he added.
China, a country that has nuclear weapons, intensified military pressure near Taiwan, sending war ships and aircraft to the waters and the airspace around the island that Beijing considers its own territory.
North Korea, which also has nuclear weapons, continues to test various ballistic missiles.
Artificial intelligence and its risks
Artificial intelligence has quickly gained capacity and popularity in 2024, which has generated a growing concern among some experts about their military applications and their risks to global security. And some governments have also addressed the subject.
In the United States, for example, then -President Joe Biden signed a decree in October with the objective of reducing the risks that artificial intelligence poses for national safety, economy and health or public safety. His successor, Donald Trump, revoked him last week.
“AI advances are beginning to appear on the battlefield provisionally, but worrying, and a special concern is the future possibility of nuclear weapons applications,” Holz said.
“In addition, artificial intelligence is increasingly disturbing the world’s information ecosystem. The misinformation and mistaken information fueled by AI will only increase this dysfunction, ”he added.
Climate change is another threat to humanity
The year 2024 was the hottest recorded in history, according to scientists from the UN World Meteorological Organization. The last 10 years have been the 10 hottest ever registered, according to the organization.
“Although there has been impressive growth in wind and solar energy, the world is still short of what is needed to avoid the worst aspects of climate change,” said the expert.
Bulletin was founded in 1945 by scientists such as Albert Einstein and J. Robert Oppenheimer.
This content was originally published on the final judgment clock is adjusted and the end of the world is even closer on the CNN Brazil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
