“Six-Seven” Eight Nine. Human Extinction has Never Come Closer to Enactment.

Photo by Arseny Togulev on Unsplash

“Six-seven!!!” Eight-nine. As in we were, and still are 89 seconds to midnight, reigning closer than we ever have before to human extinction. Through the perils of climate change, nuclear threat, and so much more, the Doomsday Clock has stood tall for the past 79 years (having originated from Chicago in 1947), constructed and operated under the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, serving as a proxy for assumed global catastrophe. At its essence, this manually-operated device serves to account for the unfettered developmental advances presently attained, and the repercussions following matters of such nature. If the clock were to ever ‘strike midnight,’ such would allegedly serve as metaphorical symbolism for ‘the end of times.’ 

As intricate as these mechanisms are, I’d rather take time to delve into the roots of such metaphorical ideals (i.e. nuclear risk, biosecurity… etc), which would also evidently serve to include ecological strife. 

Just outside the North Pole sits the Arctic, a glacial wonderland of ice and snow, but most importantly, a unique ecological gemstone with regards to Earth’s bio-terrestrial layout, housing a keystone species essential to its habitat: the Polar Bear, the famous poster child for our society’s rapidly declining climate crisis. Well, at least that’s what it once was. Through various modes of ecological defamation and pollution, the ice that once stood against the roaring rapids of the Arctic Ocean, is now melting.

The perpetrator(s)? Us. Well, more specifically, climate change. From our overconsumption in e-cigarettes and plastic, to our society’s now overbearing dependence on AI (especially with the sheer sum of electricity—which in turns induces an increase upon global carbon emissions— and data centers required in order for such functions to operate), we are the perpetrators. This planet is dying because of us. 

“Here we go again with this AI crap…”

“What is AI even doing…”

In December of last year, scientists analyzed a blood sample from a group of polar bears dwelling in habitats spanning across northern and southern Greenland, when they observed a peculiarity. Turns out, the genetic makeup of the southern-dwelling polar bears “diverged genetically” from their northeastern relatives. Having been separated from each other 200 years ago, the northern-dwelling polar bears resided in habitats far colder than their southern counterparts.  Turns out, the polar bears residing in the south had re-written their genetic makeup to account for the lack of seals given today’s current ecological stature (they’ve had to switch to a more plant-based diet). Just to ensure that you’re truly grasping the weight of such matters. Polar bears are RE-WRITING THEIR DNA to account for our shortcomings. They are quite literally dying (no literally go look up a photo of a polar bear right now).Currently estimated to be around 26,000, polar bear populations have been classified as ‘vulnerable,’ (with some institutions— like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services—deeming them endangered) with populations expected to drop about 30% by 2050. 

Though not outright responsible, AI still serves as major contribution to global warming (alongside the other constituent components mentioned prior). 

Though not inherent, such notions still tie into this narrative of human extinction. Today it’s polar bears. What’ll it be tomorrow?  

“The planet can survive without you. You cannot survive without the planet.”