The world is on the brink of a new era, according to scientists who have unveiled the Doomsday Clock. In a statement released today, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists announced that the Doomsday Clock has been set to just two minutes to midnight, the closest it has been since the Cold War. The clock was created in 1947 to symbolize the potential of a global catastrophe, and the Bulletin has used it to mark the likelihood of a nuclear war or other human-caused disasters. The Bulletin cited a number of factors that have contributed to the decision to move the clock closer to midnight, including the continued threat of nuclear weapons, climate change, and the rise of artificial intelligence. “The world has entered a new era of profound and increasing dangers,” said Rachel Bronson, president and CEO of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. “The international security situation is dire, not just because these threats exist, but because world leaders have allowed the international political infrastructure for managing them to erode.” The Bulletin also noted that world leaders have failed to adequately address the threats of nuclear weapons and climate change, and have failed to take steps to reduce the risk of a global catastrophe. The announcement of the Doomsday Clock comes as world leaders gather in New York for the United Nations Climate Action Summit. The Bulletin is urging world leaders to take immediate action to reduce the risks of a global catastrophe. “The time for world leaders to act is now,” said Bronson. “We cannot afford to ignore the warning signs any longer. We must take decisive action to reduce the risks of disaster.”