Posted:
Mon Jan 22, 2007 6:17 pm Post subject:
The Doomsday Clock
The Doomsday Clock is a symbolic clock maintained since 1947 by the Board of Directors of the bulletin of the Atomic Scientists based in Chicago, USA.
The bulletin, which sets the clock, was founded in 1945 as a newsletter distributed among the nuclear physicists concerned about nuclear war.
Its clock uses the analogy of the human race being at a time that is “minutes to midnight” where midnight represents destruction of our world.
The number of minutes before midnight – an arbitrary measure of the degree of nuclear threat – is updated periodically.
The clock has been moved ahead, Wednesday, by two minutes to stand at 11:55; just five minutes away from midnight to reflect a new two-pronged threat that humanity faces.
This time around, the scientists say, we’re not only threatened by nuclear war, but also by the impending threat of global warming.
Increasing concern about Iran’s nuclear ambitions and a nuclear test by North Korea, as well as the dangers posed to civilization by the global warming and the climate change have prompted scientists to move the clock’s hands up to five minutes to midnight two minutes closer to doomsday.
THE OTHER TIMES:
The clock has been moved 18 times in response to international events since its initial start at seven minutes to midnight in1947.
1949: 3 Minutes
The Soviet Union tests its first atomic bomb. Clock changed to three minutes to midnight.
1953: 2 Minutes
The US and Soviet Union test thermonuclear devices within nine months of one another. Clock changed to two minutes to midnight. The closet it has ever been to midnight till date.
1960: 7 Minutes
In response to a perceived increase in scientific co-operation and public understanding of the dangers of nuclear weapons, clock was changed to seven minutes to midnight.
1963: 12 Minutes
The US and Soviet Union sign the Partial Test Ban Treaty, limiting atmospheric nuclear testing. Clock changed to seven minutes to midnight.
1968: 7 Minutes
France in 1960 and China in 1964 acquire and test nuclear weapons. Wars rage on in the Middle East, Indian sub-continent, and Vietnam. Clock changed to seven minutes to midnight.
1969: 10 Minutes
The US endorses the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Clock changed to ten minutes to midnight.
1972: 12 Minutes
The US and the Soviet Un ion sign the SALT 1(Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty) and the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. Clock changed to twelve minutes to midnight.
1974: 9 Minutes
India tests a nuclear device (Smiling Buddha), SALT 2 talks stall. Clock changed to nine minutes to midnight.
1980: 7 Minutes
Further deadlock in US-USSR talks, increase in nationalist wars and terrorist actions. Clock changed to seven minutes.
1981: 4 Minutes
Arms race escalates, conflicts in Poland. Afghanistan and South Africa.
1984: 3 Minutes
Further, escalation of the arms race under the US policies of Ronald Reagan. Clock Changed to three minutes to minutes.
1988: 6 Minutes
The US and the Soviet Union sign treaty to eliminate intermediate-range nuclear forces, relations improve. Clock changed to six minutes to midnight.
1990: 10 Minutes
Fall of the Berlin Wall, success of anti-communist movements in Eastern Europe, Cold War nearing an end. Clock changed to ten minutes to midnight.
1991: 17 Minutes
US and Soviet Union sign the Strategies Arms Reduction Treaty. Clock changed to seventeen minutes to midnight (seven minutes further, its greatest distance from midnight so far)
1995: 14 Minutes
Global military spending continues at Cold War levels; concerns about post-Soviet nuclear proliferation of weapons and brainpower, Clock changed to fourteen minutes to midnight.
1998: 9 Minutes
Both India and Pakistan test nuclear weapons in a tit-for-tat show of aggression. The US and Russia run into difficulties in further reducing stockpiles. Clock changed to nine minutes
2002: 7 Minutes
Little progress on global nuclear disarmament; United States rejects a series of arms control treaties and announces its intentions to withdraw from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty; Terrorists seek to acquire nuclear weapons. Clock changed to seven minutes to midnight.
That is a great post Sam. I had seen pictures of this Doomsday clock before, but never knew the symbolism behind it! when I would look at it I always thought of our impending doom...or our time running out. Fun that it's pretty similar to that actual reasons.
Posted:
Tue Jan 23, 2007 3:55 am Post subject:
Re:
REALLY cool post Sam all this will be over in 350 years. i'm running an article abt it on the next update. but it has nothing to do with Nukes
_________________
Posted:
Fri Jun 01, 2007 7:50 pm Post subject:
Re:
Anger_Theory wrote:
I'm a bit confused, do the scientists change the time closer to Midnight, or does it change itself?
Very interesting none the less
Ok let me clear your doubt....
Its a clock similar to one used everywhere... but here the scientists after carryin lots research about the various factors affecting our environment, themselves change the time in the clock just to indicate that we are close to the dooms day, if we dont take any step to avoid such disaster.
The recent change to 7 mins from 9 mins is done cause of increase in use of Nuke's (Not the HS admin...lol).
_________________ I_Am_What_I_Am
Seriously_Serious_SAM
Posted:
Sat Jun 02, 2007 12:18 am Post subject:
Re:
Anger_Theory wrote:
I'm a bit confused, do the scientists change the time closer to Midnight, or does it change itself?
Very interesting none the less
it would be kinda neat if the clock adjusted by itself. i think this could be accomplished by creating a internet based virtual clock connected to a "latest global disaster/threat-updates database". newly found threats will be added to the database and each has a threat level etc, and thru calculations and.. err stuff the clock could update by its self indicating how screwed we are.
_________________
I've heard of this Clock before, but have not seen the Timeline until now. It is intriguing and I wondered where it stands currently, so have done a little research. We stand at 5 minutes 'til Midnight right now. The website is: http://www.thebulletin.org/ for anyone interested.
Well yeah, I was just wondering and its obvious that we get close to the doomsday seeing the recent warnings given about global warming. The climate change around the world is tremendous. Recently a huge section of Ice broke apart from the antartic land. In India the season timings have changed since last year. Winters in India have usual timing in the month of october or November but this time it was late in the January. Also Summer here is quite unexpected from the last years'. We also had rains in summer a few weeks ago. The world might also be under drastic climate changes and its no doubt that we heading towards 12 Midinght at a very great speed..
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all this will be over in 350 years. i'm running an article abt it on the next update. but it has nothing to do with Nukes
