Environment

Doomsday Clock Hovers at 2 Minutes to 'Midnight'

Humanity might be running out of time to turn away from a path toward our utter annihilation — at least, according to the hypothetical Doomsday Clock.

Experts with the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (BAS) updated the imaginary timepiece, which measures the proximity of humanity's destruction based on the position of the clock's hands relative to midnight — the hour of the impending apocalypse.

Last year the Doomsday Clock's hands were set at 2 minutes to midnight, the closest it had ever been to "doomsday." And, citing similar risks of humanity's destruction, BAS representatives announced today that the clock will remain at 2 minutes to midnight.

But even though the clock's hands haven't moved, the proliferation of nuclear weapons and the relentless progress of climate change — aided by widespread misinformation and fake news — are still a cause for grave concern, BAS representatives declared at a press event.

South Australia heatwave

Temperatures in southern Australian neared 48 degrees on Thursday, shattering previous records as sizzling citizens received free beer to help weather heatwave of historic proportions.

The Bureau of Meteorology reported temperatures of 47.9 Celsius (118 Fahrenheit) north of Adelaide, while inside the city temperatures reached 46.2 Celsius, a fraction above a record that had stood since 1939.

More than 13 towns across South Australia have smashed their own heat records, with some of the state forecast to see temperatures of 50 degrees by the end of the day.