What is the 'Doomsday Clock?”

Earth is closer than it's ever been to destruction as Russia, China, the U.S., and other countries become “increasingly aggressive, adversarial, and nationalistic,” The Bulletin of The Atomic Scientists said as it advanced its “Doomsday Clock” to 85 seconds till midnight. The scientists cited risks of nuclear war, climate change, potential misuse of biotechnology, and the increasing use of artificial intelligence without adequate controls as they made the annual announcement, which rates how close humanity is to ending.

Class discussion: The Doomsday clock was created by scientists who helped create the first atomic bombs that destroyed which cities? When it first appeared in 1947, it was set at seven minutes to midnight, and it has gone up or down depending on perceived threats to human existence. Do you believe we are closer to destruction than ever before? Why or why not? Do you think artificial intelligence or climate change threatens humanity? Could nuclear war destroy civilization? Is the world growing more politically unstable?