doomsday clock

What is the doomsday clock and what are the implications of this time keeping device for humanity ?

In 1947 men and women around the world were asked to reflect on the evolutionary position of humanity in contrast to the potential for destruction that makes our species vulnerable to mass extinction or to an evolutionary step. This wasn't a direct question but more of a project called the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists is a magazine (online magazine) that covers social issues and global security issues surrounding nuclear policy debates. Although the founder, biophysicist Eugene Rabinowitch, was a very technically literate former Manhattan Project physicist the material in the magazine is presented in a non technical manner. This is done deliberately in the hope of encouraging people from all walks of life to read the material and to think of the implications of weapons of mass destruction. It was founded in 1945 way before the age when public internet access was common but in an age where atomic energy was in it's early stage of infancy and atomic weaponry and warfare was plaguing the minds of humans. From 1945 to 1948 the USA was the only country to possess nuclear weapons and the only time nuclear warheads were ever used in combat was on August 6 and August 9 of 1945 when Little Boy was used at Hiroshima, Japan, and the Fat Man leveled Nagasaki.

Professor Rabinowitch died in 1973 but before his death he had expressed that "The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists" which he'd founded had undergone three distinct stages of evolution.

The first stage was failure. Through the contributions of exceptionally brilliant scientists such has J. Robert Oppenheimer, Albert Einstein, Bertrand Russell, and others they had failed reasonably establish successfully "who was in control of atomic weapons". It was the consensus amongst contributing writers to the Bulletin that such control should be out of the hands of the state.

The second stage was peril. By 1949 the Soviet Union had successfully launched their own nuclear tests and were amassing a nuclear arsenal. This began an arms race and a turning point for humanity where a war fought with nuclear weapons of mass destruction was a reality. Was there any hope left for humanity? This was a question that the contributing scientist to the magazine where focusing on. Suddenly the world had two overlords or super powers to contend with and this new world was a very perilous place indeed where these WMD's could be used in head to head combat in a war with hardly any foot soldiers. The potential for destruction on a level unknown before to humanity now existed. The magazines focus was now on warning the public about this atomic war potential.

The third stage of development for the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists was coined the Fear stage by Rabinowitch. The first and second stages had met little success. When the atomic scientists tried to stop the warlords from using nuclear weapons, they failed. They tried to educate about amassing nuclear arsenals but the words of the magazine never stopped the Soviets or the Americans from stockpiling warheads in an amount that likely brought the world to a point of no return. So what was left was fear ? Here the world stood at a point were spies could sell nuclear secrets to other countries for massive amounts of money. Sums vast enough to turn a loyalist into a middleman with no integrity to a national flag. A point where national boundaries knew no real security. So what could be done by the atomic scientists but to use the Bulletin to try to convince people about the merits of the disarmament of stockpiled weapons of mass destruction.

The Bulletin has continued to be an advocate of safety for humanity and the ecological systems that are the source of energy for all of life. In the post cold war years it has focused on the new threats which are posed by a widening field of nuclear players. The issues covered connect science, global security, public policy, and existing or emerging technology. 

...the Doomsday Clock came into being. This doomsday clock was designed to be a symbol of nuclear danger.

Seven minutes to midnight...

This is where the minute hand of the doomsday clock was set in 1947. Unlike other time keeping devices this clock does not hold precise time. The position of the minute hand fluctuates with the present dangers of nuclear and atomic energies. The study of atomic energies brings new elements of danger to the "survival of life" table all the time. New biotechnologies and nanotechnologies are evolving in quantum leaps and each new device makes national boundaries even weaker to defend.

The minute hand of the doomsday clock shifts back and forth, towards and away from the midnight hour of ultimate doom which each new assessment made by the scientists.

In 1953 it was set at 2 minutes to midnight at a time when the Soviets were highly involved in nuclear tests.

In 1991 it seemed the world was as safe a place as it had ever been. This was a time when some nuclear power agreements had been reached by the super powers and the clock was set at 17 minutes to the end of....

If this subject interests you then you are able to access some great articles that cover issues on bioterrorism, nuclear energy, nuclear weapons, biosecurity. climate change, and more.

Reading can only widen your understanding of things and help you draw opinions on issues.

The Doomsday clock is an issue that has captured the imagination of many doomsday interpreters.

While the Bulletin is down to earth and respectfully accepted to be the work of accomplished scientists of sound mind and of sound objective assessment abilities. Some people would claim it to be to conservative in what doomsday is.

There are conspiracy theories and with the year 2012 around the corner there are amazing stories about what the time keeping mechanism will play out.

Enter here for access to the Bulletin online and the Doomsday Clock.