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If you haven’t heard of the Doomsday Clock, here’s a brief and terrifying synopsis for you: It was created in 1947 at the University of Chicago as an easy analogy to show people how close we are to armaggeddon at any given moment. “Midnight” on the clock represents doomsday, and, obviously, the closer the hands are to midnight, the closer we are to total annhilation. When it was first “set” in 1947, during the Cold War, we were at 11:53. Since then, it’s been readjusted 18 times, so today’s Q10 is going to highlight 10 of those adjustments and why they happened.
1. By 1953, the clock had lost five minutes, putting the time at 11:58. But the reason was pretty called for – it was the time period when the U.S. and the Soviet Union were testing nukes. So far, it’s the closest we’ve ever been to midnight.
2. Ten years later, though, we had not only gained back those five, we had doubled it. The clock was at 11:48 thanks to increased studies and scientific understanding of nuclear weapons. And, in 1963, the U.S. and the Soviet Unition signed the Partial Test Ban Treaty, which limited nuclear testing.
3. Although things were looking up regarding the Soviet Union, by 1968, France and China had started testing nukes and we were embroiled in Vietnam. Mainly due to those events, we lost another five minutes, putting us at 11:53.
4. In the next three years, the Senate passed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Soviet Union signed the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty and the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. Three treaties = five minutes gained on the clock, putting us back at 11:48…
5. At least, until India tested a nuclear device in 1974 and we lost another three. 11:51.
6. By 1981, the U.S. and the USSR weren’t as “friendly” as they were during the past treaties and discussions had kind of stalled. The arms race was getting out of control, terrorists were becoming more active and things in Afghanistan, South Africa and Poland weren’t looking good. This resulted in a loss of six minutes, putting us closer to midnight than we had been since 1953.
7. But then things started to look up! By 1991, more treaties were signed, the Berlin Wall was torn down, the Iron Curtain fell. We gained a whopping 14 minutes, putting us at 11:43, the farthest we have ever been from midnight. Talk about a swing in events!
8. It didn’t last long, though, and we’ve been losing ground ever since. In 1998, India and Pakistan both tested nuclear weapons. That combined with increased military spending throughout the world caused us to lose eight minutes, putting us back in the less-than-10-minute range – 11:51.
9. We still weren’t gaining any ground in 2002. The U.S. rejected arms control treaties, probably because of 9/11, and they talked about withdrawing from the previously-signed Anti-Ballistic Missle Treaty. This resulted in a loss of two minutes – 11:53.
10. Right now, we’re at five minutes til midnight. We lost another two in 2007 thanks to North Korea’s nuke tests and the uncertainty of Iran’s nuclear actions. And, experts are now considering climate change as one of the possible doomsday events in addition to a nuclear holocaust.
Well, now I’m mildly depressed.
Photo via the Australian Broadcasting Company
Comments (16)
Comment
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What a load of … tripe.
This is nothing but a public relations effort on the part of a load of self-aggrandizing academics.
It’s about as “scientific” as “The Late Great Planet Earth.”
Pff.
posted by BlogDog on 1-14-2009 at 3:42 pm
Although this blog was interesting and well written, I have to agree with blogdog about the idea of this clock. Apparently it has never been better than 11:30. Just publicity hounds.
posted by Witty Nickname on 1-14-2009 at 4:06 pm
They did an entire episode of Modern Marvels on this. Now how is that a modern marvel?
posted by Jessica on 1-14-2009 at 4:25 pm
Impossible to read this article and not think about the Iron Maiden song.
Two minutes… to miiiidnight.
posted by Ryan H on 1-14-2009 at 5:17 pm
I tend to agree that the Doomsday clock, while very interesting, is a publicity stunt and serves no purpose but to further the political ends of those who control the hands.
But, a very good article, thanks.
posted by Adam D. Jones on 1-14-2009 at 5:42 pm
i’m with you blogdog
posted by kat on 1-14-2009 at 6:48 pm
Another vote for BlogDog.
posted by GT on 1-14-2009 at 7:00 pm
Is BlogDog called BlogDog cuz BlogDog dogs blogs?!
posted by mjr on 1-15-2009 at 5:23 am
The whole concept behind the graphic novel “Watchmen” kind of centers on this idea. At the end of every issue, when it was a running series, there’s an image of this clock that’s getting closer to midnight. I understood the concept, but now I know where the idea comes from.
posted by Nate on 1-15-2009 at 9:36 am
it’s funny becuase i was just listening to “2 minutes to Midnight” the other day and did some research on it and found out about the doomsday clock. And now there is a quick 10 about it. it is a very strange coincidence.
plus, i agree with blogdog
posted by andy on 1-15-2009 at 10:32 am
What BlogDog said. The clock is utter rubbish.
posted by Paul on 1-15-2009 at 12:47 pm
@Jessica
While I love watching Modern Marvels, I think they ran out of good topics quite a while ago. I believe there’s been an episode on cold cuts. Now I like turkey on rye as much as the next guy, but I wouldn’t call it a modern marvel.
posted by crocostimpy on 1-15-2009 at 1:12 pm
I don’t think anyone can pinpoint the end of the world…and if they could, no one would be around to be able to brag about it. What’s the point?
posted by Shelly on 1-15-2009 at 2:07 pm
I saw a Modern Marvels on horses the other day. HORSES.
They are out of ideas
also, BlogDog is right
posted by Scott on 1-15-2009 at 2:34 pm
Now that would be a good idea for the Mental_floss store…a Doomsday Watch (you could just sell a bunch of broken old watches set to 11:50ish and you’d be pretty good). I would buy one for all my paranoid friends. I like the Doomsday clock. It helps a lot of people visualize the repercussions of the actions around the World; not just their own backyard.
Blogdog….you seem angry…maybe you need a Doomsday Timeout…
posted by Doomsday Watch on 1-15-2009 at 5:01 pm
Doomsday Watch … your suggestion seems indicative of a weak mind.
But far be it from me to try to analyze someone I’ve never met from a comment posting.
mjr, I picked “BlogDog” because I have a Blogger blog called “Pugs of War,” so named because there is no less warlike dog than a pug. And besides, on the Internet, no one can tell you’re a human.
posted by BlogDog on 1-15-2009 at 7:52 pm