The Doomsday Clock

The Doomsday Clock is a symbolic representation created by scientists to illustrate how close humanity is to catastrophic global failure, such as nuclear war or environmental disaster. It is maintained by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists and is set minutes before midnight—the symbolic point of global catastrophe. A setting farther from midnight suggests greater safety, while a closer setting indicates increased danger. The clock is adjusted based on current global threats, reflecting the scientific community's assessment of risks that could threaten civilization’s future.