Doomsday Clock ticks closer to midnight

The Doomsday Clock is the closest it's been to midnight since the 1950s with scientists pointing to one major reason - President Donald Trump.

According to NPR, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists says it's seeing an increase in dangers to humanity, from climate change to nuclear warfare. The group took the "unprecedented" step of moving the clock 30 seconds closer to midnight, to leave it at 2 minutes and 30 seconds away.

In 1953, scientists moved the clock to 2 minutes to midnight after seeing both the United States and the Soviet Union test hydrogen bombs.

Explaining its move, the Bulletin's Science and Security Board said:

"Over the course of 2016, the global security landscape darkened as the international community failed to come effectively to grips with humanity's most pressing existential threats, nuclear weapons and climate change ... This already threatening world situation was the backdrop for a rise in strident nationalism worldwide in 2016, including in a U.S. presidential campaign during which the eventual victor, Donald Trump, made disturbing comments about the use and proliferation of nuclear weapons and expressed disbelief in the overwhelming scientific consensus on climate change."

According to NPR, the board criticized Trump further by saying, "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."

Launched in 1947, the Doomsday Clock was created by Manhattan Project scientists. Initially seen as an indicator of the likelihood of disastrous nuclear conflict, it now also includes other threats, such as climate change, biological weapons and cyberthreats. According to NPR, it's the first time in the Doomsday Clock's 70-year history that the advisory board has adjusted the clock by 30 seconds.

Read more from NPR.