Top 10 Events That Moved The Doomsday Clock

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[Music] time flies when you’re courting nuclear

time flies when you’re courting nuclear

time flies when you’re courting nuclear disaster welcome to watchmojo.com and

disaster welcome to watchmojo.com and

disaster welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for

today we’re counting down our picks for

today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 events that moved the

the top 10 events that moved the

the top 10 events that moved the Doomsday Clock

Doomsday Clock

Doomsday Clock before we begin we publish new videos

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content for this list we’re looking at

content for this list we’re looking at historical incidents that prompted the

historical incidents that prompted the

historical incidents that prompted the bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

bulletin of the Atomic Scientists

bulletin of the Atomic Scientists science and security board the

science and security board the

science and security board the caretakers of the Doomsday Clock to move

caretakers of the Doomsday Clock to move

caretakers of the Doomsday Clock to move the hands closer to or further from

the hands closer to or further from

the hands closer to or further from midnight the symbolic hour of manmade

midnight the symbolic hour of manmade

midnight the symbolic hour of manmade global disaster we’ve ranked them

global disaster we’ve ranked them

global disaster we’ve ranked them according to historic firsts

according to historic firsts

according to historic firsts international significance how far the

international significance how far the

international significance how far the minute hand moved and its distance from

minute hand moved and its distance from

minute hand moved and its distance from midnight number 10

midnight number 10

midnight number 10 slow response to climate change and

slow response to climate change and

slow response to climate change and modernization of nuclear arsenals in

modernization of nuclear arsenals in

modernization of nuclear arsenals in 2010 the clock moved back one minute as

2010 the clock moved back one minute as

2010 the clock moved back one minute as international arms control and climate

international arms control and climate

international arms control and climate change talks showed signs of progress

change talks showed signs of progress

change talks showed signs of progress but the reversal was short-lived

but the reversal was short-lived

but the reversal was short-lived in 2015 the failure of world leaders to

in 2015 the failure of world leaders to

in 2015 the failure of world leaders to take meaningful action on climate change

take meaningful action on climate change

take meaningful action on climate change as well as the threat of a new nuclear

as well as the threat of a new nuclear

as well as the threat of a new nuclear arms race as the US and Russia promised

arms race as the US and Russia promised

arms race as the US and Russia promised to reduce but also modernize their

to reduce but also modernize their

to reduce but also modernize their Arsenal’s prompted the bulletin to move

Arsenal’s prompted the bulletin to move

Arsenal’s prompted the bulletin to move the minute-hand forward two minutes to

the minute-hand forward two minutes to

the minute-hand forward two minutes to just three minutes from nuclear

just three minutes from nuclear

just three minutes from nuclear Armageddon and climate catastrophe it

Armageddon and climate catastrophe it

Armageddon and climate catastrophe it was a trend that continued with a minute

was a trend that continued with a minute

was a trend that continued with a minute hand reaching two minutes to midnight in

hand reaching two minutes to midnight in

hand reaching two minutes to midnight in 2018 back to 1953 levels number nine the

2018 back to 1953 levels number nine the

2018 back to 1953 levels number nine the nuclear non-proliferation treaty in the

nuclear non-proliferation treaty in the

nuclear non-proliferation treaty in the 1960s France and China both got the bomb

1960s France and China both got the bomb

1960s France and China both got the bomb joining the u.s. USSR and UK in the

joining the u.s. USSR and UK in the

joining the u.s. USSR and UK in the nuclear Club but amid fears of

nuclear Club but amid fears of

nuclear Club but amid fears of apocalyptic global war a nascent

apocalyptic global war a nascent

apocalyptic global war a nascent anti-nuclear movement gained traction

anti-nuclear movement gained traction

anti-nuclear movement gained traction and negotiations produced the treaty on

and negotiations produced the treaty on

and negotiations produced the treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons

the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons

the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons signed by most countries The Bulletin

signed by most countries The Bulletin

signed by most countries The Bulletin celebrated by pushing the clock back to

celebrated by pushing the clock back to

celebrated by pushing the clock back to 10 minutes to midnight the nuclear haves

10 minutes to midnight the nuclear haves

10 minutes to midnight the nuclear haves agreed to share peaceful nuclear

agreed to share peaceful nuclear

agreed to share peaceful nuclear technology with the have-nots and

technology with the have-nots and

technology with the have-nots and eliminate their nuclear arsenals

eliminate their nuclear arsenals

eliminate their nuclear arsenals which to date has still yet to happen

which to date has still yet to happen

which to date has still yet to happen but at the time it set a powerful

but at the time it set a powerful

but at the time it set a powerful precedent for cooperation and marked a

precedent for cooperation and marked a

precedent for cooperation and marked a moment of cautious optimism in troubled

moment of cautious optimism in troubled

moment of cautious optimism in troubled times number 8 the Cold War escalates a

times number 8 the Cold War escalates a

times number 8 the Cold War escalates a series of arms limitation agreements

series of arms limitation agreements

series of arms limitation agreements improved relations between the u.s. and

improved relations between the u.s. and

improved relations between the u.s. and USSR throughout the 1970s but the Soviet

USSR throughout the 1970s but the Soviet

USSR throughout the 1970s but the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan derailed

invasion of Afghanistan derailed

invasion of Afghanistan derailed diplomacy and the u.s. increased Cold

diplomacy and the u.s. increased Cold

diplomacy and the u.s. increased Cold War military spending hoping the

War military spending hoping the

War military spending hoping the economically stagnant Soviet Union would

economically stagnant Soviet Union would

economically stagnant Soviet Union would crack and break apart tensions peaked in

crack and break apart tensions peaked in

crack and break apart tensions peaked in 1983 when the Soviets shot down

1983 when the Soviets shot down

1983 when the Soviets shot down commercial Korean Airlines flight

commercial Korean Airlines flight

commercial Korean Airlines flight double-oh-seven

double-oh-seven

double-oh-seven killing all 269 passengers and crew with

killing all 269 passengers and crew with

killing all 269 passengers and crew with nuclear-tipped missiles deployed in

nuclear-tipped missiles deployed in

nuclear-tipped missiles deployed in Western Europe and u.s. plans to launch

Western Europe and u.s. plans to launch

Western Europe and u.s. plans to launch a space-based anti-ballistic missile

a space-based anti-ballistic missile

a space-based anti-ballistic missile system sparking fears of an entirely new

system sparking fears of an entirely new

system sparking fears of an entirely new arms race the hands of the Doomsday

arms race the hands of the Doomsday

arms race the hands of the Doomsday Clock lurched forward – just three

Clock lurched forward – just three

Clock lurched forward – just three minutes to midnight number 7 North Korea

minutes to midnight number 7 North Korea

minutes to midnight number 7 North Korea enters the nuclear Club and climate

enters the nuclear Club and climate

enters the nuclear Club and climate change blooms in the 2000s the minute

change blooms in the 2000s the minute

change blooms in the 2000s the minute hand crept steadily forward as nuclear

hand crept steadily forward as nuclear

hand crept steadily forward as nuclear weapons continued to proliferate and

weapons continued to proliferate and

weapons continued to proliferate and nuclear States failed to eliminate their

nuclear States failed to eliminate their

nuclear States failed to eliminate their Arsenal’s

Arsenal’s

Arsenal’s North Korea had acceded to the

North Korea had acceded to the

North Korea had acceded to the non-proliferation treaty in 1985 but

non-proliferation treaty in 1985 but

non-proliferation treaty in 1985 but withdrew in 2003 then later announced

withdrew in 2003 then later announced

withdrew in 2003 then later announced their first nuclear test fears that Iran

their first nuclear test fears that Iran

their first nuclear test fears that Iran had nuclear ambitions and the US and

had nuclear ambitions and the US and

had nuclear ambitions and the US and Russia’s combined arsenal of 26,000

Russia’s combined arsenal of 26,000

Russia’s combined arsenal of 26,000 nukes would have been enough to move the

nukes would have been enough to move the

nukes would have been enough to move the clock forward but in 2007 a new menace

clock forward but in 2007 a new menace

clock forward but in 2007 a new menace was acknowledged climate change which

was acknowledged climate change which

was acknowledged climate change which posed a less immediate but no less

posed a less immediate but no less

posed a less immediate but no less potentially catastrophic threat the

potentially catastrophic threat the

potentially catastrophic threat the minute-hand now stood at five minutes to

minute-hand now stood at five minutes to

minute-hand now stood at five minutes to midnight number six the US and the

midnight number six the US and the

midnight number six the US and the Soviet Union signed the partial test ban

Soviet Union signed the partial test ban

Soviet Union signed the partial test ban treaty a growing public and scientific

treaty a growing public and scientific

treaty a growing public and scientific push against nuclear arms and a new

push against nuclear arms and a new

push against nuclear arms and a new spirit of international scientific

spirit of international scientific

spirit of international scientific cooperation in the 1960s led the

cooperation in the 1960s led the

cooperation in the 1960s led the bulletin to express cautious optimism

bulletin to express cautious optimism

bulletin to express cautious optimism seeing the quote vague outlines of a new

seeing the quote vague outlines of a new

seeing the quote vague outlines of a new world

world

world emerging from the quote anguish and

emerging from the quote anguish and

emerging from the quote anguish and confusion of the

confusion of the

confusion of the we even somehow managed to survive the

we even somehow managed to survive the

we even somehow managed to survive the Cuban Missile Crisis although not by a

Cuban Missile Crisis although not by a

Cuban Missile Crisis although not by a comfortable margin as evidence mounted

comfortable margin as evidence mounted

comfortable margin as evidence mounted that nuclear testing was spreading

that nuclear testing was spreading

that nuclear testing was spreading dangerous levels of radioactive fallout

dangerous levels of radioactive fallout

dangerous levels of radioactive fallout throughout the atmosphere President

throughout the atmosphere President

throughout the atmosphere President Kennedy and Soviet leader Nikita

Kennedy and Soviet leader Nikita

Kennedy and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev signed the partial test ban

Khrushchev signed the partial test ban

Khrushchev signed the partial test ban treaty which banned above-ground

treaty which banned above-ground

treaty which banned above-ground detonations as a result the hand of the

detonations as a result the hand of the

detonations as a result the hand of the Doomsday Clock was rolled back to 12

Doomsday Clock was rolled back to 12

Doomsday Clock was rolled back to 12 minutes to midnight number five the

minutes to midnight number five the

minutes to midnight number five the Soviet Union tests its first atomic bomb

Soviet Union tests its first atomic bomb

Soviet Union tests its first atomic bomb at the end of the Second World War the

at the end of the Second World War the

at the end of the Second World War the world witnessed the awful power of

world witnessed the awful power of

world witnessed the awful power of nuclear weapons which left hundreds of

nuclear weapons which left hundreds of

nuclear weapons which left hundreds of thousands dead in Japan scrambling to

thousands dead in Japan scrambling to

thousands dead in Japan scrambling to catch up in the armaments race the

catch up in the armaments race the

catch up in the armaments race the Soviet Union accelerated their own

Soviet Union accelerated their own

Soviet Union accelerated their own program and in 1949 detonated their

program and in 1949 detonated their

program and in 1949 detonated their first atomic bomb the nuclear

first atomic bomb the nuclear

first atomic bomb the nuclear competition had begun for the first time

competition had begun for the first time

competition had begun for the first time scientists moved the hands of the

scientists moved the hands of the

scientists moved the hands of the Doomsday Clock which had been created

Doomsday Clock which had been created

Doomsday Clock which had been created two years earlier to warn the world of

two years earlier to warn the world of

two years earlier to warn the world of nuclear catastrophe initially set at

nuclear catastrophe initially set at

nuclear catastrophe initially set at 11:53 it now pointed at three minutes to

11:53 it now pointed at three minutes to

11:53 it now pointed at three minutes to midnight

midnight

midnight just a few steps from the edge of

just a few steps from the edge of

just a few steps from the edge of disaster number four the end of the Cold

disaster number four the end of the Cold

disaster number four the end of the Cold War as over four decades of Cold War

War as over four decades of Cold War

War as over four decades of Cold War began to pass into history the Doomsday

began to pass into history the Doomsday

began to pass into history the Doomsday Clock jumped back to its furthest point

Clock jumped back to its furthest point

Clock jumped back to its furthest point away from midnight in its history 17

away from midnight in its history 17

away from midnight in its history 17 minutes it was also the farthest the

minutes it was also the farthest the

minutes it was also the farthest the minute-hand has ever been moved at one

minute-hand has ever been moved at one

minute-hand has ever been moved at one time the Soviet Union had entered the

time the Soviet Union had entered the

time the Soviet Union had entered the decade teetering on the brink of

decade teetering on the brink of

decade teetering on the brink of collapse the Iron Curtain was in tatters

collapse the Iron Curtain was in tatters

collapse the Iron Curtain was in tatters and the Soviet Union faced both economic

and the Soviet Union faced both economic

and the Soviet Union faced both economic stagnation and civil unrest at home it’s

stagnation and civil unrest at home it’s

stagnation and civil unrest at home it’s official dissolution on December 25th

official dissolution on December 25th

official dissolution on December 25th 1991 marked the end of Cold War

1991 marked the end of Cold War

1991 marked the end of Cold War hostilities and for the scientists at

hostilities and for the scientists at

hostilities and for the scientists at the bulletin that meant the world was

the bulletin that meant the world was

the bulletin that meant the world was taking its first hopeful steps quote

taking its first hopeful steps quote

taking its first hopeful steps quote into a new era number three India and

into a new era number three India and

into a new era number three India and Pakistan conduct nuclear tests while

Pakistan conduct nuclear tests while

Pakistan conduct nuclear tests while most nations signed the 1968 nuclear

most nations signed the 1968 nuclear

most nations signed the 1968 nuclear non-proliferation treaty a few countries

non-proliferation treaty a few countries

non-proliferation treaty a few countries refused

refused

refused including India and Pakistan in 1974

including India and Pakistan in 1974

including India and Pakistan in 1974 India tested its first bomb codenamed

India tested its first bomb codenamed

India tested its first bomb codenamed smiling Buddha and a decade later

smiling Buddha and a decade later

smiling Buddha and a decade later Pakistan followed suit

Pakistan followed suit

Pakistan followed suit in 1998 amid mounting tension over the

in 1998 amid mounting tension over the

in 1998 amid mounting tension over the Kashmir conflict the root cause of

Kashmir conflict the root cause of

Kashmir conflict the root cause of multiple battles between India and

multiple battles between India and

multiple battles between India and Pakistan India conducted a series of

Pakistan India conducted a series of

Pakistan India conducted a series of underground nuclear tests within a

underground nuclear tests within a

underground nuclear tests within a hundred miles of Pakistan’s border

hundred miles of Pakistan’s border

hundred miles of Pakistan’s border Pakistan responded with its own tests

Pakistan responded with its own tests

Pakistan responded with its own tests and the international community slapped

and the international community slapped

and the international community slapped both with sanctions the bulletin swung

both with sanctions the bulletin swung

both with sanctions the bulletin swung its clock forward by five minutes to

its clock forward by five minutes to

its clock forward by five minutes to nine minutes from nuclear apocalypse

nine minutes from nuclear apocalypse

nine minutes from nuclear apocalypse number two wars raged across the globe

number two wars raged across the globe

number two wars raged across the globe as we’ve seen in the early to mid 60s

as we’ve seen in the early to mid 60s

as we’ve seen in the early to mid 60s the clock sat back at 12 minutes to

the clock sat back at 12 minutes to

the clock sat back at 12 minutes to midnight but regional Wars intruded with

midnight but regional Wars intruded with

midnight but regional Wars intruded with the indo-pakistan war in 1965 the

the indo-pakistan war in 1965 the

the indo-pakistan war in 1965 the six-day war between Israel and

six-day war between Israel and

six-day war between Israel and neighboring countries in 1967 and u.s.

neighboring countries in 1967 and u.s.

neighboring countries in 1967 and u.s. involvement escalating in Vietnam worse

involvement escalating in Vietnam worse

involvement escalating in Vietnam worse the nuclear Club had grown with more

the nuclear Club had grown with more

the nuclear Club had grown with more countries now possessing the bomb

countries now possessing the bomb

countries now possessing the bomb lamenting quote the deadly heritage of

lamenting quote the deadly heritage of

lamenting quote the deadly heritage of international anarchy the bulletin

international anarchy the bulletin

international anarchy the bulletin advanced the clock to seven minutes to

advanced the clock to seven minutes to

advanced the clock to seven minutes to midnight as we’ve seen support for a

midnight as we’ve seen support for a

midnight as we’ve seen support for a nuclear non-proliferation treaty then

nuclear non-proliferation treaty then

nuclear non-proliferation treaty then grew but we stood at an uncertain

grew but we stood at an uncertain

grew but we stood at an uncertain crossroads in history number one the US

crossroads in history number one the US

crossroads in history number one the US and Soviet Union tests the first

and Soviet Union tests the first

and Soviet Union tests the first hydrogen bombs as friction between the

hydrogen bombs as friction between the

hydrogen bombs as friction between the US and USSR grew American scientists

US and USSR grew American scientists

US and USSR grew American scientists conceived of a new nightmare weapon the

conceived of a new nightmare weapon the

conceived of a new nightmare weapon the hydrogen bomb capable of producing

hydrogen bomb capable of producing

hydrogen bomb capable of producing mind-boggling devastation the first one

mind-boggling devastation the first one

mind-boggling devastation the first one tested in 1952 was over 450 times more

tested in 1952 was over 450 times more

tested in 1952 was over 450 times more powerful than the bomb that devastated

powerful than the bomb that devastated

powerful than the bomb that devastated Nagasaki less than a year later the

Nagasaki less than a year later the

Nagasaki less than a year later the Soviets detonated their own

Soviets detonated their own

Soviets detonated their own thermonuclear bomb and the race was on

thermonuclear bomb and the race was on

thermonuclear bomb and the race was on in response The Bulletin moved the clock

in response The Bulletin moved the clock

in response The Bulletin moved the clock to just two minutes to midnight warning

to just two minutes to midnight warning

to just two minutes to midnight warning that quote only a few more swings of the

that quote only a few more swings of the

that quote only a few more swings of the pendulum and from Moscow to Chicago

pendulum and from Moscow to Chicago

pendulum and from Moscow to Chicago atomic explosions will strike midnight

atomic explosions will strike midnight

atomic explosions will strike midnight for Western civilization the world

for Western civilization the world

for Western civilization the world seemed to Teeter

seemed to Teeter

seemed to Teeter on the brink of annihilation and just

on the brink of annihilation and just

on the brink of annihilation and just think the clock was moved back to two

think the clock was moved back to two

think the clock was moved back to two minutes to midnight

minutes to midnight

minutes to midnight in 2018