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posted by martyb on Friday January 26 2018, @01:18PM   Printer-friendly
from the better-read-this-VERY-quickly dept.

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (BAS) has set the Doomsday Clock to "two minutes to midnight" to reflect fears of a nuclear confrontation with North Korea, as well as the failure of world leaders to address climate change and other factors. The clock is now set as close to doomsday as it was in 1953:

The team of scientists singled out a series of nuclear tests by North Korea. They dramatically escalated tensions on the Korean peninsula and led to a war of words between North Korea and the US.

The BAS also referred to a new US nuclear strategy that was expected to call for more funding to expand the role of the country's nuclear arsenal. Rising tension between Russia and the West was also a contributing factor.

The "weakening of institutions" around the world in dealing with major global threats - including climate change - was another major concern, the scientists said. They also mentioned US President Donald Trump's "unpredictability", pointing to his often controversial tweets and statements.

We're back, baby!


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  • (Score: 2, Disagree) by frojack on Friday January 26 2018, @05:57PM (3 children)

    by frojack (1554) on Friday January 26 2018, @05:57PM (#628367) Journal

    Why are you using the past tense?

    He's using the past tense because the US and Russia have both substantially reduced their nuclear arsenals from previous highs.
    Probably more than enough to make each country un-inhabitable, but no longer enough to end life on earth.

    https://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/Nuclearweaponswhohaswhat [armscontrol.org]

    The key figures are in the bottom most graphic. But the US and Russia have less than 2000 warheads deployed. The number stockpiled
    doesn't matter because neither side will survive long enough to use those.

    Expectations are that less than 1000 from each side would land due to some launchers being taken out before they could launch,
    failures to perform, delivery vehicle intercept, etc.
    Would suck to live in either country, but much of the world would survive, including most of europe, and the southern hemisphere.

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  • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 26 2018, @08:16PM (2 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday January 26 2018, @08:16PM (#628480)

    He's using the past tense because the US and Russia have both substantially reduced their nuclear arsenals from previous highs.
    Probably more than enough to make each country un-inhabitable, but no longer enough to end life on earth.

    No, just human life on earth. And if you think it would only affect 2 countries, you are insane. 2000 warheads is enough to kill billions.

    • (Score: 2) by frojack on Friday January 26 2018, @11:08PM (1 child)

      by frojack (1554) on Friday January 26 2018, @11:08PM (#628608) Journal

      If all those billions were targeted perhaps. But there aren't a billion people in the US and Russia combined.

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      • (Score: 2) by janrinok on Saturday January 27 2018, @02:04PM

        by janrinok (52) Subscriber Badge on Saturday January 27 2018, @02:04PM (#628854) Journal

        One nuclear reactor goes bad (Chernobyl) and its effects were felt throughout Europe, affecting livestock, crops and milk production, polluting water supplies etc. 2000 warheads would probably affect the entire planet, although the worst affected areas would be those that had been targeted. Not the end of civilisation as we know it perhaps, but enough to cause the death of millions of people outside the participating countries.