Why the Doomsday Clock is stuck near 12

The so-called Doomsday Clock will remain set at three minutes to midnight, meaning the world is sitting on the brink of global catastrophe, amid major threats such as nuclear proliferation and climate change. The metaphorical timepiece measures the likelihood of a global disaster, with the minute hand assessed each year by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. The group of international experts, who weigh the different threats to humanity, said their decision to stand the clock still in 2016 was "not good news".

Nuclear war

The Doomsday Clock was set up in 1947, in the wake of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Concerns over nuclear weapons have always been one of the driving forces behind changes to the notional timepiece - the agreement struck between Iran and six world powers last year was seen as a major step forward in the battle against nuclear proliferation and should be cause for celebration.

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However, North Korea's claims earlier this year that it had successfully tested a hydrogen bomb sent shockwaves around the world. If confirmed, it represents a dramatic escalation in the country's nuclear capacity. "As long as nuclear weapons are considered a legitimate way to provide for national security, all of humanity remains at risk from the most dangerous technology on Earth," said the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.

Intelligent machines

Stephen Hawking is among a number of esteemed scientists to have warned that the successful development of artificial weapons could spell the end of the human race. Last week, the British physicist said advancements in science and technology were putting humanity at risk of self-annihilation by creating "new ways things can go wrong".

Climate change

Global warming remains one the largest threat to humanity, despite the historic deal signed between 195 nations in Paris in December. Experts welcomed the agreement, but warned it is nowhere near enough to avoid dangerous climate change.