What is the Doomsday Clock? Why was it created, how does it work and what it has been set to for 2024

The Doomsday Clock has been set for 2024, telling us how close we all are to death.

The Doomsday Clock has been set at ninety seconds to Midnight.

One of the most chilling indicators of how close mankind is to disaster, scientists have revealed what time the Doomsday Clock is set at for 2024. 

Introduced in 1947 by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, the Doomsday Clock is a symbolic timepiece which warns the public how close humanity is to destroying the world.

What does the Doomsday Clock mean?

The Doomsday Clock is a metaphor which is used to demonstrate how close we are to destroying the world with dangerous, man made technologies. 

In order to convey a sense of urgency, with midnight being the end of the world, the Doomsday Clock announces how many minutes or seconds away from midnight mankind is from ruin. 

Why was the Doomsday Clock created? 

The Doomsday Clock was created by scientists involved in the Manhattan Project and initially focused only on nuclear threats, however it has now been expanded to include apocalyptic threats such as climate change, political tensions, technology or pandemic illness. 

The Doomsday Clock was first set in 1947 at 7 minutes until midnight, and the farthest the clock has ever been set was 17 minutes to midnight following the end of the Cold War. 

Firefighters try to extinguish a fire after Russian shelling in Kyiv, Ukraine. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

Conversely, the closest the hands of the Doomsday Clock have ever been set to midnight was just last year. In 2023, the clock was set to 90 seconds to midnight largely because of the conflict in Ukraine, though there were other factors in the decision. 

The past year has seen the world face several challenges, with the continuation of the war in Ukraine, armed conflict between Israel and Hamas and fears of escalation into a wider, possibly nuclear conflict. 

Who decides what time the Doomsday Clock is set to?

The Science and Security Board of the Bulletin decide where the hand on the Doomsday Clock should be set to. 

The 2023 Doomsday Clock. Image: Getty

Meeting up twice a year to discuss world events, the board is made up of experts and scientists covering nuclear technology and climate science; many of whom are government advisors. The board will also consult with colleagues in different disciplines as well as the Bulletin’s Board of Sponsors. 

The Doomsday Clock is still the closest to midnight it has ever been

Following the live announcement on Tuesday, January 23, the Doomsday Clock has officially been set for 2024. However, with 2023 being the closest the clock has ever been set to midnight it hasn't changed for 2024, remaining at 90 seconds to midnight.

The Doomsday Clock being set at the same time for 2024 isn't a sign of stability.

According to the Bulletin, the Doomsday Clock remains so close to midnight as a result of the continued Russia-Ukraine war, the deterioration of nuclear arms reduction agreements, the designation of 2023 as the hottest year on record, the sophistication of genetic engineering technologies and the dramatic advancement of generative AI.