The Doomsday Clock, which considers midnight to be “the time of human extinction”, was announced to have 89 seconds remaining this year. This is the shortest time since its announcement in 1947. There is a growing fear that nuclear weapons will be used due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East, and there are also concerns about the spread of fake information due to global warming and AI. Experts emphasize that the danger of nuclear weapons is not a thing of the past.
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This article is a brief summary and overview of the article from Yomiuri Shimbun Online (https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/world/20250129-OYT1T50054/). The following is a summary and commentary, with reference to the source.
What is the Doomsday Clock?
The Doomsday Clock is a system in which global scientists liken the danger of human extinction to “midnight” and indicate the level of danger using the remaining time. It was started in the United States in 1947. With the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the use of nuclear weapons has become a real possibility, and this year, there are only 89 seconds remaining. The spread of fake news through global warming and AI has also added to the level of caution.
What happened to Nostradamus’s prophecies?
In the past, prophecies such as “Nostradamus predicted that the Great Terror would descend in 1999 and humanity would be destroyed” were much talked about, but that year has passed and the world continues. Theories of human extinction have been talked about frequently since ancient times, but in the modern era, serious risks based on scientific evidence, such as nuclear weapons and climate change, are becoming a problem.*See below
Three films about human extinction
‘Armageddon
‘ This film depicts the crisis of an asteroid colliding with the Earth. A team flies into space to carry out a bombing operation. The breathtaking plot and powerful images are its appeal.
‘Deep Impact
‘ This film also features a meteorite impact, but it focuses on how people deal with their own lives. It is a work with a strong human drama.
‘Survival Family’
This is a Japanese movie set in a world where all the electricity suddenly stops. While it has a comedic element, it also conveys the fear that the convenience of civilization can suddenly turn into a crisis.
