The doomsday clock, a symbolic measure of how close humanity is to self-destruction, has been moved to 85 seconds to midnight, the closest it’s ever been, as the global risks of nuclear weapons, climate change and artificial intelligence intensify.
The clock was moved by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, a Chicago-based science advocacy group, which warned that the world was becoming “increasingly aggressive, hostile and nationalistic,” undermining the international cooperation needed to avert disaster.
The move brings the clock four seconds closer to midnight than last year, when it stood at 89 seconds.
What is the doomsday clock?
The Doomsday Clock is a metaphorical warning system designed to show how close the world is to a man-made global catastrophe. Midnight represents complete destruction, while movements from or toward midnight reflect changes in existential risk.
Created in 1947, the clock originally focused on the threat of nuclear war, especially as the United States and the Soviet Union entered an arms race after World War II. Over time, the Bulletin expanded its criteria to include climate change, biotechnology, and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.
The clock is not a forecast, but a call to action to stimulate public debate and put pressure on global leaders to reduce threats to humanity.
Why were the clocks moved closer to midnight?
The bulletin cited a convergence of escalating dangers:
Nuclear risks: Ongoing and potential conflicts involving nuclear weapon states, including the Russia-Ukraine war, and concerns about Iran’s nuclear capabilities following recent US and Israeli strikes.
Climate change: Increasing droughts, heat waves and floods combined with the failure of governments to reach meaningful agreements to limit global warming.
Artificial intelligence: Growing concerns about the unregulated integration of artificial intelligence into military systems, its potential role in creating biological threats, and its use in spreading large-scale disinformation.
Collapse of global cooperation: The bulletin warned that “hard-won global understanding is collapsing”, fueling a zero-sum competition between the major powers.
Daniel Holz, chairman of the Bulletin’s Science and Safety Committee, said international trust was critical.
“If the world breaks down into an us-versus-them, zero-sum approach, it makes it more likely that we all lose,” he said.
Who decides the time?
The clocks were initially set by Eugene Rabinowitch, a physicist and editor of the Bulletin who was deeply involved in international disarmament efforts. After his death in 1973, responsibility shifted to the management of the Bulletin.
Since 2008, the clock has been set by the Science and Security Council, a panel of scientists and experts in nuclear technology, climate science and global security. The Board consults widely with experts and the Bulletin’s Board of Sponsors, which includes eight Nobel laureates.
When was the world furthest from midnight?
The clock was set the furthest away from midnight in 1991, at 17 minutes, after the end of the Cold War and the signing of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) between the United States and the Soviet Union, which significantly reduced the nuclear arsenal.
But in recent years, rapid geopolitical shifts have forced the Bulletin to measure time in seconds rather than minutes, underscoring the urgency of the current risks.
Can the clock be returned?
Yes, the Bulletin pointed out. The clock can move from midnight if global leaders act decisively to reduce existential threats.
This would require renewed international cooperation on arms control, meaningful action on climate change, and strong global norms and safeguards governing the use of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
Until then, the Bulletin’s message is stark: humanity is closer than ever—but the outcome is still under human control.
