It's currently two and a half minutes to midnight, according to the Doomsday Clock, a measurement system introduced by the the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists in 1947 that measures the likelihood of a world-altering catastrophe caused by nuclear weapons or climate change. A new exhibition at the Museum of Science and Industry will explore the origins of the Doomsday Clock (which is currently housed at the University of Chicago) and the challenges that currently face humanity, allowing guests to experience seven decades of nuclear history.
Opening at MSI on May 26, "Turn Back the Clock" was created in partnership with the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists and examines the history of the Doomsday Clock and the developments that have caused it to inch closer to midnight. Assembling "personal stories, interactive media, artifacts and models," the exhibit will follow the movement of the Doomsday Clock, providing a snapshot of the cultural, political and scientific climate during each decade of the clock's existence.
The exhibit will also touch on the Doomsday Clock's presence in popular culture, most notably in Stanley Kubrick's 1964 political satire Dr. Strangelove and the 1986 comic book series (later adapted into a 2009 film) Watchmen.
Access to the "Turn Back the Clock" exhibition will be included with regular admission to MSI. Assuming that the Doomsday Clock doesn't hit midnight, the exhibit is expected to run through 2018.
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