Doomsday Clock

➡️ THE DOOMSDAY CLOCK by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists - Time is Running Out!

The Doomsday Clock is a symbolic representation designed by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists to convey the urgency of existential threats to humanity, particularly nuclear warfare and climate change.

On January 27, 2026, citing a failure of leadership, the Doomsday Clock was set to 85 seconds to midnight - the closest it has ever been to midnight since its creation in 1947.

Three conflicts, all involving nuclear states, put the planet on the brink of disaster in 2025. India and Pakistan clashed in May, the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues, and in June, Israel and the U.S. attacked 3 nuclear facilities in Iran.

"Russia, China, the United States, and other major countries have instead become increasingly aggressive, adversarial, and nationalistic" - The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists' Science and Security Board (SASB)

International cooperation is essential to reduce the risks of nuclear war, climate change, artificial intelligence, and other apocalyptic dangers. It is safe to say that multilateralism is at an all-time low.

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➡️ The Bulletins' main focuses are -

A red atomic bomb cloud looms in the distance while a large white clock fills the right side of the image. The clock hands are pointing at a few seconds before midnight

In 2025, the clock was moved one second closer to midnight - 89 seconds. Before that, in 2024, it was at 90 seconds. Since its creation, the Doomsday Clock's minute hand has been moved forward 18 times.

In 1947, the clock was originally set at seven minutes to midnight. The farthest setting from midnight was 17 minutes in 1991. The end of the Cold War and the U.S. and Soviet Union's ratification of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty put humanity in its most stable position for decades.

The idea was created by globally conscious scientists who saw the immediate need for public reckoning in the wake of the horrific Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings. The Bulletin is an independent, nonprofit media organisation that set out a mission to encourage the scientific community to become involved in shaping national and international nuclear policy and to raise public awareness of the threats which face humanity.

These issues are all connected in that they were all manmade. The closer the clock hands are to midnight, the more dire the global situation is deemed to be. It serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing responsibilities of world leaders and citizens to foster a safer, healthier, more sustainable, and more peaceful world.

The decision to move the hands is made by the Bulletin's Science and Security Board, which includes experts in various fields such as nuclear technology, climate science, and biosecurity. Its position considers many factors, including the current status of world nuclear weapons stockpiles, political tensions, terrorism, the state of international diplomacy, environmental and climate changes, war posturing, and developments in emerging technologies.

"Our current trajectory is unsustainable. National leaders—particularly those in the United States, Russia, and China—must take the lead in finding a path away from the brink. Citizens must insist they do so" - SASB

The Doomsday Clock is a powerful visual metaphor, public awareness tool, and a reminder of how fragile global security and our future on this planet are. Its annual updates garner significant media attention, foster dialogue, and help to influence public discussion.

Author: Rachael Mellor, 28.01.25 (Updated 30.01.26) licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0

For further reading on the Doomsday Clock see below ⬇️

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