Which term refers to a symbolic clock that shows how close humanity is to global catastrophe, with midnight representing disaster?

Which term refers to a symbolic clock that shows how close humanity is to global catastrophe, with midnight representing disaster?

• A. The Millerites 1844
• B. The Great Fire of London 1666
• C. Doomsday Clock
• D. Mayan Apocalypse 2012

Answer: (C)

A symbolic clock gauges how close humanity stands to a global catastrophe, with midnight representing disaster. This is the Doomsday Clock, created by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists in 1947. It updates to reflect existential risks from threats like nuclear weapons, climate change, and other global hazards, and the closer the clock is to midnight, the higher the alarm. It’s a metaphorical device, not a real timer, and its readings shift as scientific assessments and world events change the perceived danger. The other options refer to historical events or prophecies rather than a living gauge of civilization risk.

A symbolic clock gauges how close humanity stands to a global catastrophe, with midnight representing disaster. This is the Doomsday Clock, created by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists in 1947. It updates to reflect existential risks from threats like nuclear weapons, climate change, and other global hazards, and the closer the clock is to midnight, the higher the alarm. It’s a metaphorical device, not a real timer, and its readings shift as scientific assessments and world events change the perceived danger. The other options refer to historical events or prophecies rather than a living gauge of civilization risk.