The Doomsday Clock Is Moved Closer To Midnight

Harperdog writes "The Science and Security Board of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has moved the hands of the Doomsday Clock from 6 minutes to midnight to 5 minutes to midnight. The Board deliberated on the decision and came to the conclusion based on a variety of events: failure on climate policy, Fukushima, nuclear proliferation, etc. This article is a good explanation of the policy decision. Lawrence Krauss said, 'As we see it, the major challenge at the heart of humanity's survival in the 21st century is how to meet energy needs for economic growth in developing and industrial countries without further damaging the climate, exposing people to loss of health and community, and without risking further spread of nuclear weapons, and in fact setting the stage for global reductions.'"

Listen to us.

[Anonymous Coward]

We have a doomsday clock.

so close!

[quaketripp]

A few more minutes and we can start playing "2 minutes to midnight" by Iron Maiden!

Re:Eventually

[Anonymous Coward]

"Today, the Doomsday Clock moved from 11:59:59.98 to 11:59:59.99, signaling that once again, scientists have proved that there are no simple metaphors that can't be abused beyond the point of utility."

Mission creep

[Anonymous Coward]

I have it on authority, that next year's doomsday criteria will include sasquatch sightings.

Re:Zeno

[Sponge Bath]

There's no reason we can't do both. I'm certain we can meet our energy needs, but maybe not our energy wants. Now where is that clock... *fling* *splat*

Re:Zeno

[Anonymous Coward]

Maybe not ours but is life really defined by humans?

Yep, it really is. I mean, who will be around to define it after we're gone?

Eloi and Morlocks, I'd imagine.

Re:Safe for a century and a half

[syousef]

So, a doomsday clock that started at 11:53 in 1947 is now at 11:55... based upon that rate of advancement (2 minutes per 65 years, obviously ignoring any other adjustments), we should be safe for over a century and a half. I've heard far more alarming predictions than that. Nothing to see here.

Personally I find it very alarming that a group of nuclear scientists can't even make a clock that doesn't work at a consistent rate. Perhaps what they need is to invent an atomic clock ;-)

Re:Eventually

[Anonymous Coward]

"Doomsday Yardstick" doesn't exactly have the same ring to it.

Re:Zeno

[BenSchuarmer]

That's when Dick Clark goes on TV live from Time Square.

Re:Zeno

[ubrgeek]

Couldn't we use the feces to meet our energy needs?

Oblig.

[Wraithlyn]

The whole point of a doomsday clock... is LOST if you keep it a secret!

WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL THE WORLD, EH?