An unlucky 13 reactions to the Doomsday Clock’s terrifying new time
Each year, a group of independent experts meets to assess the likelihood of global destruction before representing it on the Doomsday Clock. It’s good to have a hobby.
For example, when the US first tested the hydrogen bomb, the clock was set at two minutes to midnight, and as India and Pakistan seemed to be trying to outdo each other in the nuclear arms race, the hands were moved to nine minutes to midnight.
On Thursday, the body that oversees the process, The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists announced that the time for 2020 would be …100 seconds to midnight.
Gulp!
“Today the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists moves the hands of the Doomsday Clock. It is 100 Seconds to Midnight,” — @RachelBronson1, President & CEO, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists#DoomsdayClock pic.twitter.com/bxlf9TvEZu
— Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (@BulletinAtomic) January 23, 2020
The people of Twitter reacted very much as you’d expect – with a lot of mock terror and pisstakes.
1.
Do you think the #DoomsdayClock has a snooze button?
— Greg Jenner (@greg_jenner) January 23, 2020
2.
So fuck. #DoomsdayClock
— twitch.tv/Limmy (@DaftLimmy) January 23, 2020
3.
BREAKING: As the Doomsday Clock moves to within 100 seconds of midnight, Brexiteers launch campaign for it to bong next Friday.
— Have I Got News For You (@haveigotnews) January 23, 2020
4.
The #doomsdayclock goes back an hour in March though right?
— Tiernan Douieb (@TiernanDouieb) January 23, 2020
5.
I don't know what time it is on the #DoomsdayClock, but I knew we were all screwed when it hit Trump o'clock.
— Bleeding Heart Liberal Marine (@zaharako) January 23, 2020
6.
Synchronizing my microwave clock with the Doomsday Clock so I can have popcorn when the world ends.
— corey. (@coremillionaire) January 23, 2020