The symbolic timepiece known as the Doomsday clock that has adorned the front cover of the magazine Atomic Scientist since 1947 has had its hands moved closer to the doomsday hour, a symbolic act reflecting nuclear risk in the world.

The hands were last moved forward in 2002 following the September 11, 2001, attacks. An Atomic Scientist news release cited "worsening nuclear and climate threats" to the world for this latest change.

With midnight hour representing global destruction the clock was set to 2 minutes to midnight following US and Soviet bomb tests in 1953 its new time has not yet been announced but will represent the severity of the threat.

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