Axios

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists said on Tuesday it believes the world is, metaphorically, still 90 seconds away from midnight, or "global catastrophe."

The big picture: The bulletin said it's keeping the Doomsday Clock at its closet setting to midnight ever again this year because of climate change and the relentless proliferation of nuclear arms.

After starting the year with record low snow cover, frigid air and repeat storms blanketed well over 50% of the Lower 48 in snow through mid-January.

The big picture: At 58.9%, Jan. 17 had the greatest continental U.S. snow cover on record for the date in about two decades (data began in 2004).

Two specific broods of droning cicadas are expected to emerge from the ground simultaneously later this year, marking the first time in over 200 years that they've done so.

The intrigue: The last time Broods XIX and XIII co-emerged, Thomas Jefferson was president, and the Louisiana Purchase was being finalized.