Doomsday Clock Moves To 85 Seconds To Midnight

The Doomsday Clock now stands at 85 seconds to midnight, according to the latest assessment by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, a symbolic measure of how close humanity is to global catastrophe. After an initial demonstration on January 23, the group formally unveiled its findings on January 27, outlining a growing list of threats facing the world.

In their annual announcement, scientists pointed to risks including nuclear conflict, climate change, the misuse of biotechnology, and the unchecked spread of artificial intelligence. They said 2025 was defined by escalating tensions, citing Russia’s war in Ukraine and US-Israeli attacks on Iran in June. The bulletin also highlighted worsening droughts, heatwaves, and floods, blaming global inaction on climate change and criticising moves to prioritise fossil fuels over clean energy. It warned that current responses range from “wholly insufficient to profoundly destructive”, while stressing that the clock could still be pushed back if global leaders act together.

First introduced in 1947, the Doomsday Clock reflects how human actions bring the world closer to self-destruction. Last year, it stood at 89 seconds to midnight. The safest moment came in 1991, after the Cold War ended and the US and Russia moved to reduce nuclear weapons. By contrast, the clock was set at three minutes to midnight in 1984, during a period of sharply deteriorating relations between Washington and Moscow. Over the past 79 years, the Bulletin’s scientists have reset the clock annually based on their assessment.