The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists updated their “Doomsday Clock” this morning, and the news isn’t good. We’re now 30 seconds closer to midnight (Doomsday), standing at 11:57:30. The scientists involved see an increase in threats to humanity, from climate change to nuclear warfare, as the key elements in this change. This is as close to the end as we have been since 1953, when both the US and Soviets tested hydrogen bombs for the first time.

So what does this mean for us? It’s a pretty big deal, and a significant cause for concern. These are non-partisan scientists (I know some may think that scientific elites are by definition liberal, but as The Colbert Report once told us, sometimes reality has a well-known liberal bias), telling us that the world is several steps closer to going to hell in a hand-basket. We are destroying the environment of our planet, and not doing anywhere near enough to stop it. Wars continue in Syria, the DRC, and many other places, with no end in sight. North Korean nukes and grabs for power are destabilizing their region. And the election of Donald Trump is not insignificant here.

Trump uses words. Big words. Important words. And even if we now know that we’re not supposed to listen to what he actually says (whatever the hell that means), the rest of the world does listen. So when he talks about how nuclear proliferation would be a good thing, that’s a bad thing. And when he denies climate science, and is now the leader of one of the world’s leading polluters, and tells us he’s going to cut enviro regulations by 75%, that’s a bad thing. And will we follow-through and take Iraq’s oil as the spoils of liberating that country? Nobody really knows, and that is also a very bad thing. As the report notes:

“even though he has just now taken office, the president’s intemperate statements, lack of openness to expert advice, and questionable cabinet nominations have already made a bad international security situation worse.”

What do we know about the future under Trump? Not much. But it is very likely we are moving into a chaotic time, when leaders and countries won’t be confident about US intentions and actions. Which will cause fear and confusion. And that’s dangerous.

The Doomsday Clock isn’t telling us to put our heads between our legs and kiss our asses goodbye. It’s rather warning us that we need to be very vigilant as we move forward over the next few months and years. The actions of our elected leaders will interact with crises around the world, and the potential for harm is quite high right now.

People need to keep the pressure on for positive action, and to avoid potential harmful policies. Or we just might be doomed.

NPR has a great synopsis of the Bulletin’s report: The Doomsday Clock is Now 30 Seconds Closer to Midnight