The doomsday clock, a clock created by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists that predicts how far away the world is to a global catastrophe, has been set to 90 seconds, the closest it has ever been to midnight which symbolizes the destruction of the world.

   According to their website, the bulletin began after scientists “saw an immediate need for a public reckoning in the aftermath of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.” The doomsday clock first appeared on the print publication “The Bulletin ” which is run by The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists on the front cover for the June 1947 issue and was designed by Martyl Langsdorf. In 2007, the clock was given a more modern feel and in 2009, The Bulletin became one of the first print publications to become entirely digital with the clock as its logo.

   On Jan. 24, The Bulletin released a statement– “A time of unprecedented danger: It is 90 seconds to midnight” with their main reason being the war in Ukraine, Russia’s threats of nuclear war, and an increased risk of nuclear war. The Bulletin condemned Russia’s actions in Ukraine and did mention that although there have been safety measures taken, Russia involved nuclear reaction sites, Chernobyl and Zapporizhzhia which has some increased danger involved with it.

   There were some additional minor reasons listed which include nuclear weapons, climate change, biological events, and the misuse of other disruptive technologies.

   More information can be found on their website which includes updated statements, a clock timeline, about The Bulletin and more.