Doomsday Clock Hovers at 5 Mins. to Midnight

Technology can save or destroy humanity, keepers warn
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 15, 2014 1:58 AM CST
Doomsday Clock Set at 5 Minutes to Midnight
The clock was last moved in 2012, when it was set a minute closer to midnight.   (Shutterstock)

We're no closer or further away from Armageddon than we were this time last year, according to the keepers of the Doomsday Clock, who have decided to leave it at an alarming 5 minutes to midnight. The Science and Security Board of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, which runs the symbolic timepiece, told the United Nations Security Council yesterday that failure to deal with climate change and nuclear weapons is keeping the world on the edge of catastrophe, reports LiveScience.

The board hailed progress in renewable energy and in dealing with Iran's nuclear program, but warned of emerging dangers including killer robots and other high-tech weapons, reports Phys.Org. "As always, new technologies hold the promise (of) doing great good, supplying new sources of clean energy, and otherwise enhancing our lives," the board wrote. "From experience, however, we also know that new technology can be used to diminish humanity and destroy societies. We can manage our technology, or become victims of it. The choice is ours, and the Clock is ticking." (More Doomsday Clock stories.)

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