We Are Not Doomed! We Are Paladins!

“The Paladin: Standing Between Darkness and Light,” by Marcel Gagné, created with DALL-E

Oh, the humanity…

In a brilliantly orchestrated symphony of calamity, our world pirouettes on the brink like a drunken ballerina in a minefield. Climates change more often than a moody teenager’s love interests, with Mother Earth cranking the thermostat like a forgetful grandparent. Meanwhile, politicians bicker with the finesse of toddlers fighting over the last cookie, crafting policies with the longevity of a Snapchat. Economies swing like pendulums on a caffeine binge, and privacy has left the chat, waving goodbye with all your data. So long, sucker! Pull up a chair, pour yourself a good stiff drink, and watch as society dabbles in existential Russian roulette.

Every year, since 1947, The Doomsday Clock is set by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. The Bulletin’s Science and Security Board, in consultation with its Board of Sponsors, which includes nine Nobel laureates, assigns a time based on its collective thoughts on how close we are to, well, “Doomsday.” In 1947, the Clock was originally set at 7 minutes to midnight. Midnight, in case you haven’t figured it out yet, is when the lights go out for humanity.

The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists comes up with a time based on current existential threats. These include the threat of nuclear war, global tensions, and conflicts, climate change … you name it. This year, the Clock…