We're Doomed!

The Doomsday Clock was conceived by scientists who were part of the Manhattan Project, the secret U.S. research project during World War II that developed the first nuclear weapons. The creation of the Doomsday Clock is closely linked with the profound impact of the atomic bomb and the subsequent ethical, political, and scientific reactions to their unprecedented capability.

The Manhattan Project began in 1939, driven by fears that Nazi Germany was developing nuclear weapons. It was directed by Major General Leslie Groves of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and its scientific director was American physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer. The project brought together some of the greatest scientific minds from around the world, including Robert Oppenheimer, Enrico Fermi, and Richard Feynman, among others.

The project's primary locations included Los Alamos, New Mexico; Oak Ridge, Tennessee; and Hanford, Washington. These sites were involved in various aspects of designing, building, and testing the atomic bombs. The first successful test of an atomic bomb, code-named "Trinity," took place on July 16, 1945, in the New Mexico desert.

The Doomsday Clock is a symbolic representation of the likelihood of a human-made global catastrophe, maintained since 1947 by the members of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists' Science and Security Board. The closer the clock is set to midnight, the closer scientists believe the world is to global disaster. Here is a breakdown of an argument on the importance and impact of the Doomsday Clock, supported by a graphic depiction.

Since its inception in 1947, the Doomsday Clock has served as a visual metaphor for urgency and the need for action regarding global threats. Initially set at seven minutes to midnight, its adjustments over the years have reflected worsening or improving global conditions. The annual adjustments of the clock generate significant public and media attention, educating people on the severity and immediacy of threats such as nuclear proliferation, climate change, and technological developments. The symbolism of the clock influences public opinion and policy. For example, movements in the clock can prompt discussions in policy-making circles, potentially leading to legislative and diplomatic efforts to address the cited threats. The involvement of esteemed scientists like Albert Einstein and Robert Oppenheimer in its creation, and the continued involvement of experts in its adjustments, lend the clock scientific credibility and authority.

Here is a summary of key changes to the clock over the years:

• 1947: Set at 7 minutes to midnight upon its introduction.

• 1949: Moved to 3 minutes to midnight following the Soviet Union's first atomic bomb test.

• 1953: Advanced to 2 minutes to midnight after both the U.S. and Soviet Union tested hydrogen bombs.

• 1960: Reset to 7 minutes to midnight as Cold War tensions slightly eased.

• 1963: Pushed back to 12 minutes to midnight after the U.S. and Soviet Union signed the Partial Test Ban Treaty.

• 1968: Adjusted to 7 minutes to midnight amidst heightened global tensions.

• 1969: Set to 10 minutes to midnight as countries began signing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

• 1972: Moved to 12 minutes to midnight following the signing of the Strategic Arms Limitation and Anti-Ballistic Missile treaties.

• 1974: Moved to 9 minutes to midnight due to escalating nuclear arms races.

• 1980-1981: Ranged between 7 and 4 minutes to midnight, reflecting increasing Cold War tensions.

• 1984: Set at 3 minutes to midnight during a peak of U.S.-Soviet tensions.

• 1988: Adjusted to 6 minutes to midnight as relations improved between the U.S. and Soviet Union.

• 1990: Set back to 10 minutes to midnight following the fall of the Berlin Wall.

• 1991: Set at 17 minutes to midnight, the furthest from midnight ever, marking the end of the Cold War.

• 1995-2010: Varied between 14 and 5 minutes to midnight, reflecting varying degrees of global threat levels.

• 2015-2017: Adjusted between 3 and 2 minutes to midnight due to unchecked climate change and nuclear weapon modernization.

• 2018: Again set at 2 minutes to midnight in response to nuclear threats and climate change.

• 2020: Moved to 100 seconds to midnight, the closest ever, due to nuclear risks and climate change.

• 2023: Set to 90 seconds to midnight, the closest setting yet, largely due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and ongoing global issues like climate change and pandemic threats.

  
  

These changes are determined by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists and reflect the perceived global threat level at each time, influenced by political, military, and environmental factors.