History of Doomsday Clock in Timeline
The Doomsday Clock, established in 1947 by scientists including J. Robert Oppenheimer, Albert Einstein, and Eugene Rabinowitch, symbolizes the imminence of a human-made global catastrophe. It's a metaphor, not a prediction, with midnight representing total disaster. The clock's time, updated annually, reflects the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists' judgment on how close humanity is to destruction. Key factors influencing the clock's setting include nuclear war, climate change, and disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence. The Bulletin's Science and Security Board continually monitors advancements in science and technology to evaluate their potential to cause irreversible harm.
June 1947: First Clock Design
The first visual representation of the Doomsday Clock was designed by Martyl Langsdorf for the June 1947 issue of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.
1947: Clock's Inception and Initial Setting
The Doomsday Clock was created and initially set to seven minutes to midnight in 1947.
1947: Doomsday Clock Creation
The Doomsday Clock was created in 1947 by members of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, including J. Robert Oppenheimer, Albert Einstein, and Eugene Rabinowitch, to represent the likelihood of a human-made global catastrophe.
1947: Clock's Inception
The Doomsday Clock was created in 1947.
1947: Initial Setting
The Doomsday Clock was initially set at 7 minutes to midnight in 1947.
1947: Cold War and Clock Setting
With the start of the Cold War in 1947, the Doomsday Clock began at seven minutes to midnight.
1950: 'Damage Control' Exhibit
An exhibit titled "Damage Control: Art and Destruction since 1950" was featured at the Hirshhorn Museum.
1953: Clock at Two Minutes
The Doomsday Clock reached two minutes to midnight in 1953 following U.S. and Soviet hydrogen bomb tests.
1962: Doomsday Clock Position During the Cuban Missile Crisis
In 1962, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Doomsday Clock was positioned farther from midnight than in 2007, a much calmer period. This was used by critics like Steven Pinker to highlight inconsistencies in the Clock's methodology and its perceived lack of objective indicators.
1991: Clock at 17 Minutes
In 1991, the Doomsday Clock was set to 17 minutes to midnight.
1991: Furthest from Midnight
The Doomsday Clock reached its furthest point from midnight, 17 minutes, in 1991.
January 2007: Clock Redesign
The Doomsday Clock was redesigned by Michael Bierut in January 2007, giving it a more modern look.
2007: Doomsday Clock Position in 2007
The Doomsday Clock's position in 2007, described by Steven Pinker as "far calmer" compared to 1962 (Cuban Missile Crisis), was used as an example of the Clock's inconsistency and potential subjectivity.
2009: Bulletin Goes Digital
In 2009, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists transitioned to a fully digital format, moving the Doomsday Clock to their website.
2010: Conservative Critique of the Doomsday Clock's Focus on Nuclear Issues
In 2010, Keith Payne criticized the Doomsday Clock in the National Review, arguing that it overemphasized the impact of developments in nuclear testing and arms control.
November 14, 2013: 5th Doomsday Clock Symposium
The 5th Doomsday Clock Symposium, focusing on "Communicating Catastrophe," was held in Washington, D.C. on November 14, 2013.
2016: Criticism of the Doomsday Clock's Methodology and Impact
In 2016, the Doomsday Clock faced criticism regarding its methodology and potential impact. Anders Sandberg argued that the diverse range of threats considered by the Clock could lead to inaction, while Alex Barasch criticized the Bulletin for not explaining or quantifying its methodology and for creating a constant state of high alert.
2017: Clock set to 2 minutes 30 seconds
In 2017, the Doomsday Clock was set to 2 minutes and 30 seconds to midnight.
2017: Introduction of Fractions
In 2017, the Doomsday Clock was set to 2.5 minutes, marking the first use of fractions.
January 24, 2018: Clock Moved to Two Minutes
On January 24, 2018, the Doomsday Clock was moved to two minutes to midnight due to heightened nuclear threats, particularly between North Korea and the U.S.
2018: Conservative Critique of the Doomsday Clock's Emphasis on Climate Change
In 2018, Tristin Hopper acknowledged concerns about climate change but argued that it did not pose the same level of threat as total nuclear destruction, criticizing the Doomsday Clock's inclusion of climate change as a factor.
2018: Clock moved to 2 minutes
The Doomsday Clock was moved to 2 minutes to midnight in 2018.
2018: Clock at Two Minutes
The Doomsday Clock was set to two minutes in 2018 due to unaddressed nuclear weapon and climate change tensions.
2019: Clock remains unchanged
The Doomsday Clock's time remained unchanged in 2019.
2019: Clock Remains Unchanged
The Doomsday Clock's time was not changed in 2019, although the threats of nuclear weapons and climate change, intensified by information warfare, were noted.
January 2020: Two Tied-for-Lowest Points Before 2020
Before January 2020, the Doomsday Clock's tied-for-closest points to midnight were in 1953 and 2018.
January 23, 2020: Clock Set to 100 Seconds
The Doomsday Clock moved to 100 seconds (1 minute, 40 seconds) before midnight on January 23, 2020, due to superpower rivalry, hostility, and climate change.
2020: Clock moved to 100 seconds
In 2020, the Doomsday Clock was advanced to 100 seconds (1 minute, 40 seconds) before midnight.
2021: Clock Remains at 100 Seconds
The Doomsday Clock remained at 100 seconds to midnight in 2021.
2022: Clock Remains at 100 Seconds
The Doomsday Clock remained at 100 seconds to midnight in 2022.
January 24, 2023: Clock Moved to 90 Seconds
On January 24, 2023, the Doomsday Clock was moved to 90 seconds before midnight primarily due to the risk of nuclear escalation from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as well as climate change, biological threats, and disruptive technologies.
2023: Clock moved to 90 seconds
In 2023, the Doomsday Clock was moved to 90 seconds (1 minute, 30 seconds) before midnight.
January 2025: Closest to Midnight
In January 2025, the Doomsday Clock reached its closest point to midnight at 89 seconds, indicating the highest perceived risk of global catastrophe.
January 28, 2025: Clock Moved to 89 Seconds
On January 28, 2025, the Doomsday Clock was set to 89 seconds before midnight, the closest it's been to midnight since its inception.
2025: Clock moved to 89 seconds
The Doomsday Clock was advanced to 89 seconds (1 minute, 29 seconds) to midnight in 2025.