27.01.2026 22:51
Scientists have updated the Doomsday Clock, symbolically marking the world’s proximity to nuclear catastrophe, to 85 seconds to midnight. This update was made due to the increasing aggressiveness of nuclear powers and concerns related to artificial intelligence.
Scientists have updated the symbolic clock that indicates how much time humanity has left before nuclear destruction to 85 seconds before midnight. The clock has been set to the closest point to midnight, which represents the end of the world, in history.
THE DOOMSDAY CLOCK HAS BEEN UPDATED
The symbolic clock, which was initiated for the countdown to nuclear catastrophe by the management of the "Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists" at the University of Chicago in the United States in 1947, has been moved even closer to midnight. The clock has been updated to 85 seconds before midnight, marking the closest point to midnight that represents the end of the world.
REASON: NEVER-ENDING WARS IN THE WORLD
Scientists cited the increasingly aggressive attitudes of nuclear powers Russia, China, and the United States, conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, and concerns about artificial intelligence as reasons for moving the clock forward.
While explaining the rationale for the prediction of impending nuclear apocalypse, scientists also pointed to threats related to the uncontrolled integration of artificial intelligence into military systems, biological threats that could arise from the misuse of artificial intelligence, and the risks associated with its potential role in the global spread of disinformation.
"WHAT WE SEE IS A FAILURE OF GLOBAL LEADERSHIP"
In a statement to the press, Alexandra Bell, CEO of the magazine founded in 1945 by scientists including Albert Einstein and J. Robert Oppenheimer, said, "The Doomsday Clock is related to global risks, and what we see is a failure of global leadership." Bell added, "Regardless of which government it is, the shift towards neo-imperialism and an Orwellian governance approach only serves to bring the clock closer to midnight."
Bell stated, "From the perspective of nuclear risks, there has been no positive development by 2025." She also noted that threats related to nuclear weapons testing have resurfaced, saying, "The risk of nuclear weapon use is unsustainable and unacceptably high."
Pointing to the risks posed by the war in Ukraine, the bombing of Iran by the U.S. and Israel, and conflicts between India and Pakistan, Bell also referenced tensions regarding the Korean Peninsula and Taiwan in Asia, as well as the increased tensions that have arisen since U.S. President Donald Trump took office a year ago.
Previously serving as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Affairs in the Bureau of Arms Control, Deterrence, and Compliance at the U.S. Department of State, Bell stated, "Russia, China, the U.S., and other major countries have become increasingly aggressive and nationalistic." She noted that the power competition based on the "winner takes all" mentality among major countries has weakened the international cooperation necessary to reduce the risks facing the world.
THE U.S. HAD DECIDED TO RESUME NUCLEAR WEAPONS TESTING
The New START treaty, the last nuclear agreement currently in effect between the U.S. and Russia, will expire on February 5. In a statement made in September, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that both sides were ready to extend the validity of this agreement, which limits the number of deployed nuclear warheads to 1,550, for another year. U.S. President Trump has not yet given an official response to this offer.
In October, U.S. President Trump ordered the military to resume nuclear weapons testing after more than 30 years. Since North Korea's test in 2017, no nuclear power has conducted a nuclear weapons test for over a quarter of a century.
THE DOOMSDAY CLOCK HAS BEEN MOVED FORWARD FOR THE THIRD TIME
Set at 7 minutes to midnight in 1947, the Doomsday Clock has been moved back eight times and forward 18 times since then. The farthest the clock has been from midnight, symbolizing the world's nuclear apocalypse, was 17 minutes in 1991, while the closest it has been is 85 seconds today. Today's intervention by scientists marks the third time in the last four years that the clock has been reset to approach midnight.